Persimmons…really aren’t something you eat everyday. Or ever, in my case. I really haven’t seen much out there, in terms of Persimmons…who knows, it’s probably the next food trend! Although fall is almost over, next year, mark my words! It will be persimmon EVERYTHING.Anyways, my mom and I decided to delve into Persimmon-land when we found this Spiced Persimmon Tart in Sunset Magazine. Also…I recently acquired the perfect tart pan (Post-Wedding discounts are the shit). Fresh out of the oven, this tart did not disappoint. I think Persimmons are the kind of thing you want to eat with something else…alone the taste and texture was kind of weird…but mixed with some sugar, boozy brandy, lemon, ginger, and cinnamon…oh man. It’s good.This recipe is best served the day it is made, and I really think you can go without the Brandy Mascarpone here. Swap out for vanilla ice cream, maybe throw some brandy and powdered sugar into homemade whipped cream instead. This tart would be friends with apple pie…except it’s easier to make, a little more exotic, and not as heavy. WIN!

Recipe
Spiced Persimmon Tart with Brandy Mascarpone
from Sunset Magazine

Ingredients

• 1 cup flour
• 3 tablespoons plus 1/2 cup sugar, divided
• 2 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped crystallized ginger, divided
• 1/3 cup cold butter, cut into chunks
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• About 2 tbsp. lemon juice, divided
• 3 1/2 tablespoons brandy, divided
• 1 pound firm-ripe small to medium bright orange Fuyu persimmons
• 1 container (about 8 oz.) mascarpone cheese
• 2 tablespoons whipping cream

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350°F with 1 rack set in the center and a second rack set on the rung closest to the broiler. In a food processor, pulse flour, 3 tbsp. sugar, 1 1/2 tbsp. ginger, and the butter until fine crumbs form. Add egg yolk and whirl until dough comes together. Press over the bottom and 1/2 in. up the sides of a 4- by 14-in. tart pan with a removable rim (or use a 9-in. round tart pan).
2. Combine 6 tbsp. sugar, remaining 1 tbsp. ginger, the cinnamon, 1 1/2 tbsp. lemon juice, and 1 1/2 tbsp. brandy in a bowl. Core persimmons, slice 1/3 in. thick, and stir into brandied sugar. Arrange fruit in 2 overlapping rows in crust (for a round pan, in circles). Spoon sugar mixture from bowl over fruit.
3. Bake tart on center rack until crust is deep golden, 25 to 30 minutes. Cover loosely with foil and bake until persimmons are tender when pierced, 20 to 30 minutes more. Remove tart from oven and preheat broiler.
4. Set tart on a baking sheet. Cover pastry edges with strips of foil. Broil on rack close to heat until edges of fruit brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Let cool at least 30 minutes.
5. Whisk mascarpone and cream with remaining 2 tbsp. sugar, 2 tbsp. brandy, and 2 tsp. lemon juice. Loosen crust from rim with a small knife, then remove rim. (Tip: Set pan on 2 small cans, such as single-serving juice cans, and rim will slide off.) Serve with mascarpone.