Past Festival Pudding Winners
If you’ve never had persimmon pudding, then you must not be from around here!
In the Fall, this delicacy sits on the table of every family gathering in the area. Each pudding is as unique as the person that makes it! That’s why the Persimmon Festival
hosts a pudding contest every year! When it comes to cinnamon vs. allspice or heavy cream vs. milk, it all makes a difference. Check out the past winners below:
2024 Persimmon
Pudding Winner
Susan Tumey
INGREDIENTS:
2 cups persimmon pulp
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 cup half & half cream
1/2 stick melted margarine or butter
1/4 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon
DIRECTIONS:
- Combine pulp, eggs, & sugar.
- In a separate bowl, combine buttermilk & soda. Mix until it foams up a little. Add to pulp mixture.
- Sift dry ingredients & add alternately with the milk.
- Add butter & vanilla.
- Coat a 9×13 or two 8×8 baking dishes with butter. (Melt the 1/2 stick of butter in the baking dish & then pour in batter).
- Bake at 350 for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
2024 Persimmon
NOVELTY Winner
Brittany Purlee
Persimmon Spice Caramels
INGREDIENTS:
1 stick butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground allspice
1 cup light corn syrup
14 oz. sweetened condensed milk
3/4 cup persimmon pulp
DIRECTIONS:
- Prepare a 9-inch square pan by lightly buttering it or lining it with parchment paper.
- In heavy 2 to 3-quart saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add sugar and slices: thoroughly blend.
- Add corn syrup, sweetened condensed milk, and persimmon pulp – stirring well after each addition.
- Continue to cook over medium heat, stirring frequently to prevent scorching, until the temperature of the mixture reaches 240 degrees F. (Soft ball stage)
- Remove from heat and pour mixture evenly into the prepared pan.
- When cool, turn candy out of pan and cut into 3/4-inch squares. Wrap individual pieces in 2 3/4 to 3-inch squares of waxed paper. Store in airtight container.
PAST FESTIVAL WINNERS
2024 | Susan Tumey |
2023 | Lee Purlee |
2022 | Susan Marlman |
2021 | Jane Root |
2020 | No Festival |
2019 | Judy Shaw |
2018 | Gary Rayhill Jr. |
2017 | Judy Shaw |
2016 | Cindy Brewer King |
2015 | Cindy Brewer King |
2014 | Jonna Pemberton |
2013 | Cindy Brewer King |
2012 | Courtney George McFadden |
2011 | Jonna Pemberton |
2010 | Eva Powell |
2009 | Eva Powell |
2008 | Eva Powell |
2007 | Janice Kimble |
2006 | Judy Shaw |
2005 | Judy Davis |
2004 | Beth Doub |
2003 | Beth Doub |
2002 | Tammie George |
2001 | Frances Tolbert |
2000 | Lee Purlee |
1999 | Eva Powell |
1998 | Diane Rayhill |
1997 | Eva Powell |
1996 | Eva Powell |
1995 | Ruby Hawk |
1994 | Eva Powell |
1993 | Carl Brown |
1992 | Alverta Hart |
1991 | Judy Shaff |
1990 | Sissy Robbins |
1989 | Saranell Eckensburger |
1988 | Judy Shaw |
1987 | Shelba Brinegar |
1986 | Cindy Brewer |
1985 | Philis Sears |
1984 | Sharon Bowden |
1983 | Trudie Dillman |
1982 | Thelma Brown |
1981 | Bessie Cooper |
1980 | Asa Terry |
1979 | Gail Miller |
1978 | Sara Kern |
1977 | Eva Powell |
1976 | Cheryl Beasley |
1975 | Joan Buher |
1974 | Nancy Fletcher |
1973 | Mike Hardman |
1972 | Thelma Brown |
1971 | Ruth Lucas |
1970 | Doris King |
1969 | LaDean Boone |
1968 | Mary Johnson |
1967 | Kathryn Swayze |
1966 | Bessie Cooper |
1965 | Saranell Eckensburger |
1964 | Bessie Cooper |
1963 | Wavie VanCleve |
1962 | Bessie Cooper |
1961 | Evelyn Glearner |
1960 | Jean Plew |
1959 | Wavie VanCleve |
1958 | Joan Buher |
1957 | Edith Terrell |
1956 | Evelyn Godbey |
1955 | Violet Cummings |
1954 | Alyda Beavers |
1953 | Centennial Year |
1952 | Edith Terrell |
1951 | Evelyn Godbey |
1950 | Murl Gaines |
1949 | Evelyn Godbey |
1948 | Murl Gaines |
1947 | Fannie Lawyer |
want to make your own persimmon pudding?
Follow along with past Persimmon Festival Pudding Winner, Judy Shaw.