A Cuban bakery staple, these Pastelitos de Guayaba (Guava Pastelitos) con Queso are so flaky sweet and delicious. This quick dessert/breakfast food can be made in under 1 hour.
If you’ve never had pastelitos de guayaba con queso (guava pastelitos), I think it’s time!
I was blessed to live half of my childhood in South Florida. And while I will admit that Florida is wild (especially if you just watch the news), it is also a place where some of my favorite, most formative memories occurred. If you’re Latinx, South Florida can also be a really magical place. It’s a place where a lot of us feel like “home.” It’s one of the only places in the entire country where literally everyone looks like you. I really only appreciated it when I finally left. And whenever I go back, it still makes me happy all over again.
What Are Pastelitos Guayaba (Guava Pastelitos)?
Like most Latin American cuisines, baked goods are a critical part of the Cuban food experience. Cuban bakeries usually have cases filled with sweet things like arroz con leche, turrones, flan, torticas de moron and of course, pastelitos con guayaba.
Pastelitos de guayaba con queso are super popular in Miami. Give me one of these and a cordadito and it’s feels like heaven! Pastelitos are a stuffed puff pastry filled with guava paste and some sort of cheese, usually a cream cheese-like texture.
I actually had never even thought to make them until I went to a Latino market in Pasadena the other day and saw all this guava and was like OHHHH.
How to Make Pastelitos Guayaba (Guava Pastelitos)!
This recipe could not be more simple. It leans HEAVILY on store-bought puff pastry, though if you’re in a mood, you could make your own. I used a few different store-bought brands and found that Pepperidge Farm brand resulted in the nicest/flakey/traditional pastelitos.
- Slice up the store-bought guava paste.
- Beating the cream cheese with some sugar, vanilla paste (because I’m fancy) and a pinch of salt. I added it to a piping bag and piped it onto the squares of puff pastry. Add small slices of guava on top and that’s it!
- Cut up the puff pastry into rectangles.
- Pipe the cream cheese filling onto half of the squares.
- Top with slices of guava, top them, seal them with egg wash and that’s it!
- Bake ’em up!
I know sometimes I post ambitious desserts but this isn’t one of them! I hope you enjoy these pastelitos de guayaba con queso!
Pastelitos de Guayaba Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
- 3 tablespoons white granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- 4 ounces guava paste
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour for flouring work surface
- 1 package store-bought puff pastry mostly thawed on the counter
- 1 large egg beaten
- 1 tablespoon turbinado sugar optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- To the bowl of a stand-up mixer (with the paddle attachment or you could alternatively do this in a medium bowl with an electric hand mixer), add the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and pinch of salt. Beat until whipped and smooth, about 1 minute. Transfer the mixture to a piping bag. This is entirely optional. You could use a spoon to add it to the dough.
- Dust your work surface with a small handful of flour. Unfold the first rectangle of dough and using your rolling pin, flatten it out a bit. You don’t want it too thin! Cut the dough into 9 equal rectangles. The rectangles don't have to be a perfect shape! Repeat this process with the other sheet of puff pastry dough.
- Transfer half (about 9) of the rectangles to the baking sheet. Pipe about a tablespoon or two of the cream cheese onto the rectangles and top them with a slice of guava paste. Brush the edges of the rectangles with egg wash. And then place the tops of the puff pastry on the rectangles. Press the edges of the pastelitos so seams are sealed together. Transfer the puff pastry to the freezer for about 10 minutes until very chilled.
- When the pastelitos are cold, brush the tops with egg wash and sprinkle a pinch or two of turbinado sugar (entirely optional). Transfer to the oven to bake for about 18 to 22 minutes, until golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly (the guava will be SO hot) for about 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
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This reminds me of my childhood! I’ll definitely try your tip for the cream cheese, thanks for the recipe!
I’ve only had these at Porto’s in Glendale. We have always called them “refugiados” (“refugees”). I hope that is not offensive, but they are delicious!
Oh boy, those look really yummy! I’m Spanish and we use something similar to Guava Paste called Membrillo which is a paste made from Quince. It is also very delicious. Your Pastelitos look easy to make and would be delicious with Membrillo. I’m going to give it a try. Thank you for another great recipe!
Hi Adrianna!
OMGoodness!
These guava pastelitos look so heavenly!
I really like guava, it’s just so hard to find anything guava flavored in my town.
I’m now on a mission to hunt it down or just order some in.
I must make your ‘simple’ version of guava pastelitos.
Thank you for your recipe…..two thumbs up Arianna!!
Have a nice day!
I grew up in Miami, and I love getting pastelitos and café con leche when I’m in S FL visiting family. It literally is heaven.
There’s a guava tree at my office and once a year I will scrounge for the guavas and then make guava paste (def a labor of love!) and make something similar to these! I love the guava cheese pastries at Porto’s in Downey.
WOW that’s amazing. And yes I bet making guava paste is a true labor of love–I’ve never made it but would love to! 🙂
These sound wonderful. I definitely must try tShem. Now to find guava paste!