Pastelitos (Guava and Cream Cheese Pastries)
- Total Time
- 1 hour
- Rating
- Notes
- Read community notes
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Ingredients
Yield:8 pastelitos
- 1large egg
- Pinch of kosher salt
- 2sheets frozen puff pastry (about 8 ounces each), defrosted and refrigerated
- All-purpose flour, for rolling
- 5½ounces/160 grams guava paste, cut into 8 even, rectangular slices, or ½ cup strawberry jam or other fruit jam or preserves
- ¾cup/170 grams cream cheese, softened at room temperature (optional)
- 2tablespoons granulated or turbinado sugar
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (8 servings)
466 calories; 30 grams fat; 10 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 14 grams monounsaturated fat; 3 grams polyunsaturated fat; 44 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 14 grams sugars; 6 grams protein; 238 milligrams sodium
Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Powered byPreparation
- Step 1
Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Step 2
Prepare an egg wash: In a small bowl, beat the egg with a pinch of salt and set aside.
- Step 3
On a lightly floured surface, roll one sheet of puff pastry into an 8-by-12-inch rectangle roughly the size of a standard sheet of paper. (Keep the other puff pastry sheet in the refrigerator.) Dust off any excess flour and lay the rolled pastry sheet on the parchment-lined baking sheet. Dip a pastry brush into the egg wash, and paint a line in lengthwise along the center of the pastry sheet, followed by three crosswise lines, evenly spaced, forming a grid of 8 rectangles, each approximately 3 inches wide and 4 inches long. Brush edges with egg wash. Lay a slice of guava paste in the center of each rectangle (or dot with dollops of jam or preserves, if using). Spread some of the cream cheese, if using, on top of the guava paste (about 1½ tablespoons cream cheese per pastry).
- Step 4
Remove the second sheet of puff pastry from the refrigerator, and roll it out into an 8-by-11-inch rectangle, dusting with flour as needed to prevent sticking. Lay the second sheet of puff pastry on top of the first. Using the side of your palm, press around and between the mounds of filling, pressing out any excess air, and to glue the top pastry to the bottom, creating 8 even, rectangular pockets. Paint the top sheet of puff pastry with egg wash. Sprinkle the surface with sugar.
- Step 5
Using a knife or bench scraper, cut out and separate the 8 pastelitos following the original grid in between the indentations in the dough. Trim the perimeter to neaten the rectangles. The dough should still be cool to the touch; if it is warm, return the pastelitos to the refrigerator on the baking sheet for 10 minutes to firm up before baking.
- Step 6
Bake pastelitos until puffed and golden brown, about 15 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Private Notes
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Cooking Notes
Ash L.
Tried these out because I was craving my favorite pastelitos from Porto’s bakery, these turned out delicious! It also needed 20 minutes for me in the oven versus 15. I’d recommend during a thorough egg washing in order to get that golden coloring.
chelsea
Five stars! Turned out great after 20 mins in the oven. I did half with cream cheese and half without and I wish I just did all with the cream cheese because the guava/cream cheese combo was just so good.
These needed 20 minutes for me!
These needed 20 minutes for me!
Julie
This was amazing! Followed the instructions the first time around. Second time might have added a little more filling ; ) And per recommendations I did bake a while longer - little over 20 minutes to get the golden brown look.
R
PLEASE do not sub out other jams or preserves for the guava. I mean I'm sure it would taste fine but there is absolutely no comparison to how delicious these are with the exact ingredients. :)
Ana Builes
Make sure to create a slit at the top. If you have queso fresco instead, you can use that for a delicious alternative.
Camille
Delicious!! I was craving a taste of home and these hit the spot. I ended up baking them for 25 minutes to get them nice and golden. It seems like a lot of cream cheese, but 1 1/2 tablespoons is a good amount to balance the sweetness of the guava. Made “beignets” with the leftover pastry scraps. Baked with the pastries and tossed them in powdered sugar.
Ariel
Exotic and simple. Wonderful way to start the day!
Maureen
I made these but substituted about a pound of my own "rough puff" pastry dough for the sheets of puff pastry. That quantity of dough made 12 pastries. I baked at 425 degrees for 18 minutes and then removed the paper and let the residual heat of the pan and the oven bake the bottom crust a bit more.
atl mom
Simply delicious and so easy. I wasn’t sure the best way to cut the guava paste, so I did thick rectangles which were smaller than the pastry interior. Guava paste doesn’t really spread when baking so next time I would make thinner rectangles that do a better job filling the pastry. Definitely use the egg wash for bakery quality color.
R.Polley
Delicious and SUPER EASY! Hardest part is finding the guava paste, but just did Amazon next day delivery! Used marscapone instead because I didn’t have cream cheese & it was perfect!
Fox Shank
I made a few without egg wash using leftover scraps- they came out much better than the others appearance wise. Will have to try again as I am new to puff pastry. But thankfully I now have a use for the guava paste I found in the store and was fascinated by- but literally had no idea what to do with.
Suzanne
Wonderful exotic flavor but hard to line up filled pastry with top layer. I make my own guava paste from so many ripe guavas on my trees , I also make Cascos de Guayaba!
Rae
1 package Trader Joe’s all butter puff pastry, 6 oz (3/4 a block) of cream cheese, half a 14 oz package of bocadillo de guayaba. Came together quickly and easily, and it tasted great! I agree with other commenters that it needed at least 20 minutes in the oven to bake properly.
sheena
These sound delicious but the lead for the recipe mentions coconut custard pastelitos...now my mouth is watering. Can we get a recipe variation for that as well?
renee
Like others, I also had to do more than 15 minutes on my timer. I ended up between 20-25 min to get that golden brown.
Marissa
used 14 grams cream cheese and 16 grams guava paste per pastry. Baked longer and a little hotter
Ana Builes
Make sure to create a slit at the top. If you have queso fresco instead, you can use that for a delicious alternative.
J. Luciano
It’s important to put a slit in the center of the pastelitos before baking. It allows the steam to escape and the guava will stay in your pastry.
SandraSoCal
I had thought that the guava would melt and spread out with the cream cheese as it cooked in the pastry, but it didn't. Next time I would cut the guava in half horizontally and then into smaller pieces and spread them out. Also, I might try to cut the cream cheese into bits before softening (freeze for a little bit first?) and then spread them out with the guava after softened. I also needed about 28 minutes cooking. Check frequently. Very tasty!
MGL
Let cool a bit before eating. The inside is like lava. 20 minutes for me as well.
R
PLEASE do not sub out other jams or preserves for the guava. I mean I'm sure it would taste fine but there is absolutely no comparison to how delicious these are with the exact ingredients. :)
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