Pastelitos de Guayaba - Cuban Guava and Cheese Pastries
Crispy puff pastry, sweet guava paste, and cream cheese make these authentic Cuban pastries a mouthwatering treat. They're especially great for breakfast with a cafecito!
Servings: 9 pastelitos
Calories: 418kcal
Ingredients
- 11 ounces guava paste cut into 9 slices
- 6 ounces cream cheese cut into 9 slices
- 1 package puff pastry 2 sheets, thawed
- 1 large egg beaten
- 1 tablespoon demerara sugar for decoration
Instructions
- Use a sharp knife to cut the guava paste into slices. (It will be very sticky, so cutting it on a piece of plastic wrap can make it less messy.) Also, cut the cold cream cheese into slices.
- Unfold the puff pastry sheets and cut the sheets in thirds down the fold lines. Cut each strip into thirds again to create 9 squares of pastry. Repeat with the other sheet.
- Place one thick slice of guava on each piece of pastry, then stack a slice of cream cheese on top of the guava.
- Brush the edges of the pastry with beaten egg, then place a square of pastry on top. Brush the top with egg and cut a couple vent holes in each one. Sprinkle with demerara sugar if desired.
- Chill for 10-15 minutes to firm up the pastry.
- Bake at 400°F for 15-20 minutes, or until well browned.
- Let the pastelitos cool on a wire rack for at least 15 minutes before serving, as they will be very hot inside. If you didn't use the demerara sugar, garnish with a dusting of powdered sugar if desired.
- Enjoy the pastelitos right away while they're fresh.
Notes
- Need to thaw the puff pastry? Let it sit in the fridge for 6-8 hours, or at room temperature for 1 ½ hours. Thaw it quickly by microwaving it on high for 15 seconds, or until it's easy to unfold.
- Keep the puff pastry cold while you're working with it to improve its flakiness when baked.
- Cut the guava paste with a sharp knife, and cut the cream cheese when it's cold to make it easier to handle.
- Make sure you're using a guava paste that doesn't contain corn syrup or food coloring. Brands like Conchita, Iberia, La Fe, and La Costeña are good choices.
Nutrition
Serving: 1pastry | Calories: 418kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 0.002g | Cholesterol: 37mg | Sodium: 202mg | Potassium: 65mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 281IU | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 2mg
