
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:
2021 Persimmon
Pudding Winner

Jane Root
INGREDIENTS:
2 CUPS PERSIMMON PULP
2 CUPS SUGAR
2 EGGS
1 CUP BUTTERMILK
1 TSP. BAKING SODA
1/2 STICK BUTTER
1 3/4 CUP FLOUR
1 TSP. BAKING POWDER
1 CUP MILK
1 3/4 TSP. VANILLA
DASH OF CINNAMON
DASH OF SALT
DIRECTIONS:
- Mix together pulp, sugar & eggs.
- Mix baking soda with buttermilk, let sit until the buttermilk increases, about 15-20 minutes
- Add buttermilk mixture to pulp mixture.
- Melt butter in 13 x 9 inch pan in a warm oven and add to mixture.
- Sift flour, salt & baking powder and add to bowl mixture alternating with one cup of milk.
- Beat with mixer until smooth. Add vanilla and a dash of cinnamon.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 55 minutes. Do not over bake.
2021 Persimmon
NOVELTY Winner

CAKE INGREDIENTS:
2 CUPS GRANULATED SUGAR
1 1/4 CUP VEGETABLE OIL
4 EGGS
2 CUPS PERSIMMON PULP
1 TSP SALT
1 TSP BAKING SODA
1 TSP BAKING POWDER
1 TSP CINNAMON
2 CUPS ALL PURPOSE FLOUR
1/2 CUP CHOPPED NUTS
1/2 CUP FLAKED COCONUT
CAKE DIRECTIONS:
- Beat sugar and oil. Add well-beaten eggs, then persimmon pulp and rest of ingredients in order.
- Bake in greased 9×13 pan in 350 degree oven for 25-25 minutes until knife in center comes out clean.
ICING INGREDEINTS:
1/4 CUP SOFTENED BUTTER
1 8 OZ. PACKAGE CREAM CHEESE
1 LB CONFECTIONER SUGAR
1 TSP VANILLA
1/2 CUP CHOPPED NUTES
1/2 CUP FLAKED COCONUT
ICING DIRECTIONS:
- Blend softened butter and cream cheese well.
- Add sugar, vanilla, buts and coconut.
- Keep cake refrigerated.
PAST FESTIVAL WINNERS
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 Shaw |
1990 | Sissy Robins |
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 | Edith Terrell |
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.