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These Pastelitos De Guayaba (Cuban Guava Pastry) are filled with sweet, gooey guava paste and sweetened cream cheese and baked until golden brown, resulting in a creamy, gooey, flaky, deliciously sweet pastry. You'll wonder how you ever lived without these in your life!!
This recipe was originally posted in March 2017. It has been updated for content and photos.
Who doesn't love a sweet, gooey, fruity paste with some sweetened cream cheese all wrapped in layers of puff pastry? I mean I love them. Love them so much. Because they are INCREDIBLE.
I had my first Pastelitos De Guayaba at this little Cuban bakery in Ocean Beach called Azucar. It was love at first bite. Those pastries inspired me to make these delicious sweet and buttery morsels of love.
These guava pastries are incredible guys. They may seem simple (they totally are), but once you take your first bite of that sweet, flaky, gooey goodness, you'll wonder how you ever lived without these in your life.
These are the perfect addition to that amazing brunch you're planning (I highly recommend this banana bread with brown sugar for brunch too), an easy morning treat for a quite morning at home, or that "any time of the day will do" kind of treat.
Doesn't really matter when you eat them, only that you eat them!
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The Ingredients
There are only a few ingredients in these guava and cream cheese puff pastry cups. I get all the ingredients at my local grocery, but you can also buy on Amazon through the below links (affiliate links - I earn a small commission if you buy through these links to create all these amazing recipes!):
- Cream cheese
- Guava paste
- Puff pastry
- Egg
- Coarse sugar
- Sugar
What is Guava Paste?
Guava paste is a puree of the guava fruit and sugar, with some added pectin to give it it's jelly-like consistency.
What Does Guava Paste Taste Like?
Often said to be a combination of pear and strawberry, guava paste is much sweeter than the actual guava fruit due to the added sugar.
**If you like baking with puff pastry, check out these Air Fryer Churros, Banana Nutella Pastries, these Apple Turnovers or these puff pastry Cinnamon Swirls**
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Step By Step Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400F degrees. Combine the cream cheese (softened to room temperature) and sugar and whip until combined.
Place one layer of puff pastry on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. We're going to split the puff pastry into 9 squares. Just mark them without cutting.
Separate the guava paste into 12 equal portions. Place 1 portion of guava paste on each pastry square.
Add 1 tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture on top of the guava paste.
Place the second layer of puff pastry over the top and press down to seal the edges around the filling.
Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut the pastry into 9 equal squares and seal the edges with a fork.
**It's ok if the edges are not fully sealed - the filling shouldn't ooze out much.
To make the egg wash, beat an egg in a small bowl mixed with 1 teaspoon of water. Brush the individual pastries with the egg wash and Sprinkle with coarse sugar crystals.
Bake for 15-20 minutes on the lower rack of the oven, or until pastry is golden brown and guava paste is gooey. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes.
These would be incredible served with a little cup of Cuban coffee. Learn how to make your own with this Cuban Coffee recipe from My Big Fat Cuban Family. If you prefer to purchase some Cuban Coffee, you can buy it on Amazon HERE.
Expert Tips
- If the edges of the pastries won't seal well, dab them with a bit of water to help them stick - it's ok if all the edges aren't perfectly sealed!
- Increase the amount of coarse sugar on the outside if you prefer a more sugary coating;
- Bake on the lower rack of the oven for the best results. This enables the bottom to cook more, preventing any sogginess.
Ideas for Using Leftover Guava Paste
Once you try guava paste, you will want to start using it all the time. Check out some of the awesome ideas for using it:
- Use it in the sauce for these spicy Brazilian Chicken Wings;
- Guava Glazed Pork from Food and Wine;
- Try this Guava Cheesecake from Coco and Ash;
- It's great used in turnovers and in sweet empanadas;
- Great used as a marinade for chicken or pork;
- Bake it over top some brie for a real special treat!
Storing Options
**These pastries are really best straight out of the oven!!
You can store these guava pastries in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat them in a 350 degree oven for 3-7 minutes, until warmed throughout. They can also be reheated in the microwave.
How to freeze pastelitos de guayaba: These pastries can also be made in advance (not baked) and frozen. After filling and sealing, place on a baking sheet in the freezer for 3 hours, until frozen. Store them in a freezer safe bag or container. To bake from frozen, increase the cook time 3-5 minutes.
Did you make these Pastelitos De Guayaba? Rate the recipe and leave a comment below to let me know what you think!
Recipe
Pastelitos De Guayaba (Cuban Guava Pastry)
Ingredients
- 2 sheets puff pastry
- 9 tablespoons guava paste
- ½ cup (4 ounces) cream cheese, softened at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon coarse sugar crystals (for sprinkling)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Combine the cream cheese (softened to room temperature) and sugar and whip until combined.
- Place one layer of puff pastry on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. We're going to split the puff pastry into 9 squares. Just mark them without cutting.
- Divide the guava paste in 12 equal portions.
- Place 1 portion of guava paste on each pastry square. Add 1 tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture on top of the guava paste.
- Place the second layer of puff pastry over the top and press down to seal the edges around the filling.
- Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut the pastry into 9 equal squares and seal the edges with a fork.
- To make the egg wash, beat an egg in a small bowl mixed with 1 teaspoon of water. Brush the individual pastries with the egg wash and Sprinkle with coarse sugar crystals.
- Bake in the oven (on a lower rack) for 15-20 minutes until golden brown. Remove and let cool for 5 minutes.
Expert Tips:
- These pastries can also be made in advance (not baked) and frozen. After filling and sealing, place on a baking sheet in the freezer for 3 hours, until frozen. Store them in a freezer safe bag or container. To bake from frozen, increase the cook time 3-5 minutes.
- If the edges of the pastries won't seal well, dab them with a bit of water to help them stick - it's ok if the edges aren't completely sealed;
- Increase the amount of coarse sugar on the outside if you prefer a more sugary coating;
- Bake on the lower rack of the oven for the best results. This enables the bottom to cook more, preventing any sogginess.
Nutrition
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