If you love a cocktail that’s cozy, bright, and just the right amount of spiced, the Spiced Persimmon Smash is going to be your new favorite cold-weather drink. Persimmons have this gorgeous velvety sweetness—somewhere between peach, apricot, and honey—and when you mix them with cinnamon and cardamom syrups, they turn into a rich, warming base that still feels fresh. Add vodka for a clean backbone and lemon juice to brighten everything up.
Spiced Persimmon Smash Recipe
Glass: Rocks glass
Ice: Large cube or crushed ice
Ingredients
- 2 oz vodka
- 1 oz persimmon purée
- 0.5 oz cinnamon simple syrup
- 0.5 oz cardamom simple syrup
- 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice
Garnish: Cinnamon stick + candied persimmon slice
Instructions
- Add vodka, persimmon purée, cinnamon syrup, cardamom syrup, and lemon juice to a shaker filled with ice.
- Shake until chilled and well combined.
- Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
- Garnish with a cinnamon stick and a piece of candied persimmon.
How to Make Persimmon Purée
You only need one or two ripe Fuyu persimmons.
- Peel and chop.
- Blend until smooth.
- Add a splash of water if needed.
- Strain for a silkier texture.
It will keep in the fridge for 3–4 days or can be frozen for a month.
How to Make Cinnamon Simple Syrup
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 3–4 cinnamon sticks
Simmer 5 minutes, steep 10, strain.
Why This Cocktail Works
- Persimmon adds silky sweetness without being sugary.
- Cinnamon + cardamom create a warm, cozy spice profile.
- Vodka keeps the drink clean and crisp, letting the persimmon shine.
- Lemon juice brightens the whole cocktail so it never feels heavy.
It’s balanced, seasonal, and incredibly drinkable.
Mocktail Version
Skip the vodka and add:
- 1 oz extra persimmon purée
- Splash of soda water or ginger beer
Still garnish with cinnamon + candied persimmon
Twist Variations
Make it cozier
Add 0.25 oz maple syrup for a deeper autumn flavor.
Make it brighter
Swap the lemon juice for lime to bring more citrus snap.
Make it boozier
Use bourbon instead of vodka for a richer, warmer smash.
Home Bar Tips
Use ripe Fuyu persimmons.
They should feel firm but not hard—like a ripe plum.
Double strain if you want a smoother texture.
Persimmon can be pulpy.
Don’t skip the lemon.
It keeps the cocktail balanced and prevents it from turning too sweet.
Taste before pouring.
Persimmons vary in sweetness—adjust syrups accordingly.
Troubleshooting
“It’s too sweet.”
- Add more lemon
- Reduce cinnamon syrup
- Increase vodka by 0.25 oz
“It’s too thick.”
- Shake harder for more dilution
- Add a splash of soda water on top
“The persimmon flavor is too subtle.”
- Increase purée to 1.25 oz
- Use very ripe persimmons
“The spices are too strong.”
- Reduce cardamom syrup to 0.25 oz
