PASTELILLOS DE GUAYABA (GUAVA CHEESE PASTRIES)
Panaderías in Puerto Rico are magical. Their brightly lit glass cases are lined with fresh-baked bread and rich pastries, begging you to order too many. As a child, I clamored for pastelillos (also called pastelitos) de guayaba. The pastries typically have a flaky crust and are filled with a generous smear of concentrated guava paste - an embodiment of tropical Caribbean flavor - and often with cheese, served glazed or dusted with powdered sugar. In East Harlem, or El Barrio, New York's historic Puerto Rican enclave where I lived for some time, I discovered Valencia Bakery on East 103rd Street, which made a bite-size version with a generous amount of confectioners' sugar, creating a portal between the island and my new home. My recipe is inspired by theirs. These are excellent with coffee, and will keep for several days, benefiting from a reheat in the oven.
Provided by Von Diaz
Categories snack, finger foods, pastries, dessert, side dish
Time 1h30m
Yield 16 servings
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Set out puff pastry to thaw for 40 minutes at room temperature.
- Once pastry is thawed, line a 12-by-17-inch baking sheet with 2 pieces of parchment paper. (The double layer helps to protect your pan when you're cutting the puff pastry.) Heat oven to 400 degrees.
- Prepare your egg wash by whisking egg and milk together. Keep it handy.
- Lay one layer of puff pastry on top of parchment paper on the baking sheet. Make a 4-by-4 grid of guava stacked with cheese, spaced evenly, leaving about 1 inch of space in between. Top with the second puff pastry sheet.
- Using a pizza cutter, slice the puff pastry into 16 equal pieces, touching the top lightly to determine where to slice. It's OK if you don't do a perfect job; these are especially good when the guava spills out and caramelizes along the edges. (And don't worry too much about getting the cut exact, or pieces being odd sizes. It gives them character.)
- Working quickly, use a fork to crimp all four edges twice on each side, then arrange them evenly on the baking sheet, leaving space between each. Brush the tops and edges lightly with the prepared egg wash and place baking sheet in the center of the oven.
- Bake for 25 minutes or until pastelillos are beautifully golden brown, flaky and puffy.
- Out of the oven, let pastelillos rest for at least 10 minutes before eating. (Guava is molten hot and will burn your mouth, badly.)
- Once they've cooled, sprinkle with confectioners' sugar to taste. They can be eaten warm or at room temperature, and will keep for several days in an airtight container. Heat leftovers in the oven for 5 minutes at 350 degrees to bring back their crispness.
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grape_soda
[email protected]I love the flaky crust on these pastries. It's the perfect complement to the sweet guava and cheese filling.
Murad Ahmed
[email protected]These pastries are the perfect size for a snack or dessert. They're also very portable, which makes them great for taking on the go.
azam azeem
[email protected]I've never made pastries before, but these were surprisingly easy to make. I'm definitely going to make them again.
Tj Bridges
[email protected]I had a hard time finding guava paste, but it was worth the effort. These pastries are amazing!
shafia rajput
[email protected]These pastries are a bit too sweet for my taste, but they're still very good. I would probably use less sugar next time.
Arbabali Arbabali
[email protected]I'm not a fan of guava, so I wasn't sure if I would like these pastries. But I was pleasantly surprised! The cheese filling balances out the sweetness of the guava perfectly.
Muornye Evelyn
[email protected]These pastries are a bit pricey to make, but they're definitely worth the splurge. They're so delicious and everyone I've shared them with has loved them.
Mostafijur Rohman
[email protected]I love the flaky crust on these pastries. It's the perfect complement to the sweet guava and cheese filling.
Rakesh.bc. Bc
[email protected]These pastries are the perfect size for a snack or dessert. They're also very portable, which makes them great for taking on the go.
Victoria Girl
[email protected]I've never made pastries before, but these were surprisingly easy to make. I'm definitely going to make them again.
Mugema Vicent
[email protected]I had a hard time finding guava paste, but it was worth the effort. These pastries are amazing!
Muchunguzi Sweetbert
[email protected]These pastries are a bit too sweet for my taste, but they're still very good. I would probably use less sugar next time.
NASIHA JAVID
[email protected]I'm not a huge fan of guava, but I really enjoyed these pastries. The cheese balances out the sweetness of the guava perfectly.
Pppp 1212
[email protected]These pastries are a great way to use up leftover guava paste. I always have a jar of it in my fridge and these pastries are the perfect way to use it up.
Techerz
[email protected]I love the combination of guava and cheese in these pastries. They're the perfect balance of sweet and savory.
Mashudu Mashige
[email protected]These pastries are a bit time-consuming to make, but they're definitely worth the effort. They're so delicious and everyone I've shared them with has loved them.
Carrie Hubbard
[email protected]I've made these pastries several times now and they always turn out perfect. They're the perfect combination of sweet and savory.
Cindy LouLa
[email protected]These guava cheese pastries were a hit at my party! They were so easy to make and everyone loved them.