First things first: had I realized how easy these guava cream cheese pastries (guayaba pastelitos) were to make, I would have been making them a long time ago!! Also, it's so dangerous that I have this recipe now and can make pastelitos any time I want!! So you've been warned. You may become everyone's new best friend if you start bringing these around. They're dangerously easy and so MOUTH WATERING and you can make these with or without cream cheese too...because cream cheese makes everything better!
If you've never had guava pastries before, you've been missing out! Guava is a tropical fruit and it gets made into a paste that's almost like a really thick jelly that's fruity and sweet. Stuff that inside of a pastry and it's perfection!! These are made with frozen puff-pastry so they take only a few minutes to put together.
If you're making them with cream cheese, just slice a block of cream cheese about ¼ inch thick and lay one slice across the guava paste. I like to lay it diagonally so you get some in every bite. You can see it in the video below.
Guava Pastries (Pastelitos de Guayaba)
Ingredients
- 1 package pepperidge farm puff pastry (Thawed but kept very cold)
- 1 14 ounce package guava paste (sliced into 18, ¼ inch slices)
- 6 ounces cream cheese (sliced into 9, ¼ thick slices)
- 1 egg (beaten)
- ½ cup powdered sugar (optional)
Instructions
- Pre-heat your oven to 400 degrees and beat your egg and set aside. Also take out your puff pastry from the freezer. (You don't want it to get all the way to room temperature but you do want it to be JUST soft enough that you can unfold it.)
- Slice your guava paste into 18 slices. (About ¼ inch thick).
- Unfold 1 puff pastry sheet and lay on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. (keep the other pastry sheet in the fridge until ready to use)
- Take two pieces of guava paste and place them together where each pastry will be. (See photos and/or video) (This recipe makes 9 pastries so 3 pastries across and 3 pastries down.)
- If you're adding cream cheese, take 1, ¼ inch slice of cream cheese and place it in right on top of the guava pieces. I just use one piece per pastry so it doesn't overwhelm the guava.
- Take out the second sheet of puff pastry and unfold over the top of the guava pieces. Don't worry about sealing the edges.
- Cut the pastry sheets into 9 equal squares. Just do your best to cut in between the guava pieces. Go slowly!! The guava is very sticky so you don't want your knife to pull everything apart.
- Cut 2 slits in the top of each square to vent.
- Brush the tops with the egg wash.
- Place in the oven for 25-30 minutes.
- After they've cooled for about 10 minutes, you can dust them with powdered sugar if you'd like. They're great either way!! ENJOY!
Notes
Recipe adapted from My Big Fat Cuban Family
Debra C. says
I would be in the never had guava before, however your recipe looks amazing! These look so fancy, but easy too - what a lovely pastry!
Sandi G says
I really wish someone would invent a gluten free version of those puff pastry sheets. They look so good.
Coco and Ash says
Now that would be a great accomplishment!! Thank you!
Jacqueline Meldrum says
I've never tried or heard of these, but I am imagining it will be a bit like the combination of quince jelly and cream cheese which work really well together. I am now craving these. MUST NOT LOOK AT FOOD BLOGS WHILST HUNGRY!!!
Coco and Ash says
haha You have to try them!! And yes...never look at food blogs while hungry! 🙂
Katie | Healthy Seasonal Recipes says
I haven't tried guava pastries before, but they do look surprisingly simple to make now that I see the way you make them here. Love that powdered sugar on top.
Coco and Ash says
Thanks Katie! They are SO easy! I hope you get to try them!
Dahn says
This looks incredible, I love working with puff pastry. I haven't tried guava paste but I love guava's so I know I would love them
Coco and Ash says
Thank you!! You should definitely try them if you like guava!
Jessi says
Love guava as a fruit, but never tried guava pastries before. It looks delicious in those pictures. Thanks for sharing:)
Coco and Ash says
I hope you get to try them!! 🙂
Meagan E says
These were amazing. So simple and just a handful of ingredients! Grew up picking wild guava so this reminded me of childhood.
Helen says
These came out amazing! Do these need to be refrigerated after baking them or can they be left out in a sealed container? For how long? Thank you!!
Coco and Ash says
I leave then out. No longer than a few days though. Thank you!!
Kelly says
Loved this recipe! Finally found one that incorporated the amount of filling I wanted because so many don't have enough. Cut mine into 12 pieces instead of and worked out great!
Janice says
I make these often for family and friends. Delicious.
Coco and Ash says
Thank you!!
Debbie says
Every time I make these no matter what event I take them to they are a huge hit. So easy but so yummy.