Pawpaw Pudding Recipe (2024)

Recipe from Sheri Castle

Adapted by Jeff Gordinier

Pawpaw Pudding Recipe (1)

Total Time
1 hour 15 minutes
Rating
4(173)
Notes
Read community notes

When it comes to pawpaw, accept no substitutes. Trust us; we tried. We went to a bunch of experts — scholars who specialize in fruit, plus chefs and cookbook authors who know all about the proud culinary history of Appalachia — and we asked them, “If a home cook doesn’t happen to have any pawpaw, what combination of other fruits and vegetables might work well as a replacement?” We picked up passing nods to sweet potatoes, bananas, papayas, avocados, really ripe mangoes. But in the end everyone came back with variations on “Forget it, there’s nothing like a pawpaw.”

The goopy-textured, tropical-ish fruit whose name sounds like a punch line on “Hee Haw” can be found scattered all over the country, but recipes (for cakes, pies, puddings) abound largely in West Virginia and nearby states like Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana. If you happen to secure some pawpaw, best to get out of its way, as is the case with this pudding. Pawpaw is a holiday guest who responds well to minimal interference. —Jeff Gordinier

Featured in: The United States of Thanksgiving

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Ingredients

Yield:12 servings

  • ½cup/1 stick/113 grams butter, melted and slightly cooled, plus more for baking dish
  • 2cups/400 grams sugar
  • cups/190 grams all-purpose flour
  • 1teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼teaspoon salt
  • ½teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼teaspoon ground ginger
  • ¼teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 3large eggs
  • 2cups /1 pound/454 grams pawpaw pulp, thawed if frozen (see note)
  • cups/355 milliliters whole milk
  • 1teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • Lightly sweetened whipped cream, for serving

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (12 servings)

297 calories; 10 grams fat; 6 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 3 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 47 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 35 grams sugars; 4 grams protein; 111 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Pawpaw Pudding Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13-by-9-by-2-inch baking dish.

  2. Step

    2

    In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg.

  3. Step

    3

    In another large bowl, whisk together eggs and pawpaw pulp until smooth. Whisk in milk and vanilla. Whisk in melted butter. Pour into sugar mixture and stir only until combined.

  4. Step

    4

    Pour batter into prepared dish. Bake 50 minutes or until just set in the center. Cool to room temperature on a wire rack before cutting. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream.

Tip

  • Frozen pawpaw pulp can be bought online from integrationacres.com and earthy.com.

Ratings

4

out of 5

173

user ratings

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

P.M.

We had a glut of pawpaws this year- almost 400 lbs! We sold or gave away a lot of them but I did process and freeze quite a lot. I made this pudding for Thanksgiving and one of the guests declared it was the best desert he'd ever had- a rare rave from him.I halved the sugar, I was concerned the amount of sugar in the receipt would overwhelm the unique floral character of the pawpaw.

Linda

Delicious, but I don’t taste the pawpaw as much as I had hoped. But my husband likes it, and he doesn’t really care for pawpaw. Like others, I drastically cut down the sugar: about a half cup instead of two cups. My pawpaws are plenty sweet already.

HB

This is extremely sweet. If I make it again I'll use only 1 1/2 cups of sugar, if that.

b bowers

I made it with Paw Paws growing near the Olentangy River by Ohio State Univ. campus. My first time picking and seeding. I learned a lot and will be a better judge of size and ripeness. Tough to beat the wildlife to the choice pawpaws. I cut the sugar to 1 cup like others recommended. I enjoyed it warm with a little bit of whip cream. BTW the 21st annual Paw Paw fest is being held this weekend (Sept. 14-16) down near Athens Ohio. Jacki-O's brewery makes Paw Paw beer.

Amanda Ira

Thank you for sharing this recipie!! I added cream cheese icing to my piece instead of whipped cream and it was fantastic! My daughter and I walk our dog in the woods by our house and we always forge. Paw paws are the main thing we collect. Although it is fun to her she doesnt care for the paw paw fruit alone as much as I do. We LOVED this recipie and will now be a regualr treat in our house!

NC

Made this with pawpaws from a demonstration garden where the staff didn’t know what to do with them. I have three trees not yet producing, just couldn’t wait to try the fruit. This pudding is very pawpaw forward. Made gluten free with extra cinnamon, less nutmeg, half the sugar. Served warm, topped with lightly sweetened whipped cream grazed w cinnamon. A winner! Next time I’ll add a little brandy to the topping.

Naomi

this was delicious, but the pawpaw flavor didn't come through very strongly (or honestly at all). i probably would save my pawpaws next time for something where their flavor can really shine!

Gail

Yes, please halve the sugar. This is excellent with plain yogurt. I also think it would be good with walnuts or pecans added.

Don

The real challenge to this recipe is extracting the pawpaw flesh while avoiding the peel, pits, and any parts of the flesh that have gone bad. I've tried a variety of approaches but it is always a long messy struggle. I welcome advice!

Diana

I peel the paw paw first with a paring knife then cut the paw paw in circles instead of lengthwise. I find it easier to take the seeds out that way.

Jim S

This is the first paw paw recipe my wife has liked. This has a wonderful texture and a nice sweetness without being too much. I think this recipe enhances the flavor of the paw paw. I used frozen paw paw pulp I made when I had more than I could eat at one time.

Krista

Use half the sugar, more cinnamon

Jessica

Absolutely delicious. I followed recommendations here to halve the sugar, otherwise follow the recipe to the tee. I understand why someone said this is the best thing they've ever eaten. It has such a balanced, beautiful taste. I hope I one day find paw paws again, and can make this again.

Himsahimsa

Equal amounts paw paw and sugar. How about just skip the paw paw?

Yim (Canada)

We followed the recipe and made a delicious pawpaw pudding yesterday; we had a piece each after dinner, and we all got sick(me, my daughter and husband) - with vomiting and diarrhea! I was sick all night - didn't sleep.later we googled and found out that there are some people who will get sick after eating pawpaw especially when it's cooked.I think NYT should post a warning with this recipe, because it really can ruin a nice experience.

Baker the Pastry Chef

I recommend using extremely ripe Pawpaw in this recipe, and not adjusting it at all! The sugar doesn't just contribute sweetness, it creates the unique texture of the dessert along with the eggs and butter. The goal here is NOT a cake, it's a pudding like Sticky Toffee Pudding, which you cannot get with the reduced sugar.

Steve Lacks Focus

Tried this with Paw Paw pulp from my own Paw Paw trees. I decided to use only half of the sugar, based on some of the previous feedback. In addition, I used Pamela's mix (Gluten Free) in place of the flour and baking soda. Lastly, I used reduced sugar Vanilla Almond Milk instead of the whole milk. Best recipe so far for Paw Paws.

b bowers

I made it with Paw Paws growing near the Olentangy River by Ohio State Univ. campus. My first time picking and seeding. I learned a lot and will be a better judge of size and ripeness. Tough to beat the wildlife to the choice pawpaws. I cut the sugar to 1 cup like others recommended. I enjoyed it warm with a little bit of whip cream. BTW the 21st annual Paw Paw fest is being held this weekend (Sept. 14-16) down near Athens Ohio. Jacki-O's brewery makes Paw Paw beer.

Sebastian

I made this with some extremely tender paw paws that were picked locally. I followed the recipe exactly. The paw paw flavor in my pudding abounded, but for those sensitive to sweetness you may want to take the others' advice and cut the sugar

Linda

Delicious, but I don’t taste the pawpaw as much as I had hoped. But my husband likes it, and he doesn’t really care for pawpaw. Like others, I drastically cut down the sugar: about a half cup instead of two cups. My pawpaws are plenty sweet already.

P.M.

We had a glut of pawpaws this year- almost 400 lbs! We sold or gave away a lot of them but I did process and freeze quite a lot. I made this pudding for Thanksgiving and one of the guests declared it was the best desert he'd ever had- a rare rave from him.I halved the sugar, I was concerned the amount of sugar in the receipt would overwhelm the unique floral character of the pawpaw.

Private notes are only visible to you.

Pawpaw Pudding Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is the paw paw fruit not more popular? ›

And the main problem with pawpaws is they're really hard to store and ship. As soon as you pluck them, they get ripe very fast, within three to five days, and they become really squishy and brown and ugly. And so this is the main reason that pawpaw producers say they're not widely available.

What makes pawpaws bitter? ›

Generally, ripe pawpaws are supposed to be sweet with butter-like consistency. However, raw pawpaws together with their seeds contain papain (an enzyme used to digest proteins), which makes them bitter.

How many pounds of fruit does a pawpaw tree produce? ›

Under cultivation, one tree has the potential to produce 25-50 lbs. of fruit per tree. Preferred site conditions: The pawpaw can grow in both full shade and sunlight, making it unique to other plants.

How to prepare pawpaw? ›

The easiest way to eat one is to cut the ripe fruit in half across the middle, squeeze the flesh from the skin into your mouth, then spit out the seeds. Don't eat the skin or seeds, which contain toxins. Many people also cook with ripe pawpaws, making bread, beer, ice cream or this pawpaw pudding from NYT Cooking.

Why are pawpaws not sold in stores? ›

If it comes off the tree while it's still hard, there's a chance that it might not ripen at all, which is why growing pawpaws commercially is very labor-intensive — because we go out during pawpaw season every single day and we touch every single pawpaw to see if it's ripe,” said Lane.

Is the pawpaw fruit bad for you? ›

Pawpaws are very nutritious fruits. They are high in vitamin C, magnesium, iron, copper, and manganese. They are a good source of potassium and several essential amino acids, and they also contain significant amounts of riboflavin, niacin, calcium, phosphorus, and zinc.

Can you eat too many pawpaws? ›

Eating the fruit might cause hives, nausea, vomiting, headache, or faintness in some people. American pawpaw extract might cause vomiting.

Are pawpaws a laxative? ›

Like most fruits, especially wild fruits, pawpaws have a powerful laxative effect.

What animal eats pawpaws? ›

Opossums, foxes, squirrels, raccoons, and birds are all known to enjoy pawpaw and are likely to be closely watching for ripe fruits.

Will pawpaws ripen if picked green? ›

When they are ripe, pawpaw fruits naturally fall from the tree. Pawpaws may be handpicked from the tree slightly under-ripe and still proceed to finish ripen normally. If picked too early, they will not finish ripening properly or at all.

What is the lifespan of a pawpaw tree? ›

They grow to a height of between 20 and 40 feet. They have a lifespan of from 80 to 120 years. They are also commonly known as persimmon, although they are unrelated to the actual persimmon fruit or other species in the genus Diospyros. Pawpaws produce edible fruits that are often used in baking.

Do pawpaws need lots of water? ›

Pawpaw trees need about 1" of rain per week so keep an eye on the weather. If rainfall is inadequate, you'll need to supplement with water from a hose. The best way to do this is to let your garden hose trickle slowly. This gives the water a chance to soak in instead of running off.

What not to eat with pawpaw? ›

Citrus fruits

Consuming citrus fruits like orange, grapefruit, or lemon with papaya can result in a sour taste and cause digestive problems. Papaya and citrus fruits contain high levels of vitamin C and may lead to acid reflux, heartburn, and stomach irritation.

Is it safe to eat raw pawpaw? ›

Raw papaya is healthy as it is a good source of dietary fibre, vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium, and antioxidants. It may also contain enzymes like papain that aid digestion and offer anti-inflammatory properties.

Can I drink water after eating pawpaw? ›

To promote optimal digestion, it is advisable to drink room temperature or warm water after consuming papaya. This allows for a smoother digestion process and helps maintain a balanced body temperature.

Why are paw paws rare? ›

You won't find the fruits in most grocery stores, even though they're native to North America. American Indians harvested them, and it's been said George Washington liked to eat chilled pawpaw for dessert. But much of the pawpaw's natural habitat was destroyed by development, and they're not that easy to cultivate.

Why is the beautiful pawpaw endangered? ›

The beautiful pawpaw has declined greatly in range and abundance. Some of its former populations have been extirpated, especially in the Fort Myers urban area. It is endangered mostly because of the destruction of its habitat for residential, commercial, and agricultural development.

Are pawpaws endangered? ›

Several four-petaled pawpaw plants have made their homes here in the scrub habitat. This plant is ranked endangered both by the state of Florida and the United States Federal Government because it only grows in Palm Beach and Martin Counties - nowhere else in the world!

Are pawpaws rare? ›

Pawpaw is the most common sapling species in C&O Canal (CHOH), GW Memorial Parkway (GWMP), Harpers Ferry (HAFE), and National Capital Parks - East (NACE), and ranks as the second most common sapling species at Antietam (ANTI), and Monocacy (MONO).

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