Guava Pastry Recipe: Flaky and Delicious Treat

Name: Pastelitos De Guayaba (Cuban Guava Pastry)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2 sheets puff pastry; 9 tablespoons guava paste; 1/2 cup (4 ounces) cream cheese, (softened at room temperature); 1 tablespoon granulated sugar; 1 egg; 1 tablespoon coarse sugar crystals ((for sprinkling))

These Pastelitos De Guayaba (Cuban Guava Pastry) are filled with sweet, gooey guava paste and sweetened cream cheese and baked until perfectly golden brown… resulting in the most creamy, flaky, gooey, deliciously sweet pastry ever. Honestly, once you try these, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without them in your life.

I mean… who doesn’t love sweet, fruity guava paste snuggled up with light, sweetened cream cheese and wrapped in buttery layers of puff pastry? That combo is pure magic. I LOVE them. Love them so much. Because they are INCREDIBLE.

I had my first Pastelito De Guayaba at a tiny Cuban bakery in Ocean Beach called Azucar. It was love at first bite. The kind of bite where you immediately question why you’ve spent so many years of your life not eating these daily. Those pastries inspired this recipe — little sweet, buttery morsels of love that you can now make right in your own kitchen.

These guava pastries are truly something special, guys. They may seem simple (because… they totally are), but once you take your first bite of that warm, flaky, gooey goodness, you’ll ask yourself: Where have these been all my life?!

They’re perfect for that gorgeous brunch spread you’re planning (might I also recommend this banana bread with brown sugar), a quiet morning treat at home, or honestly… that “anytime-you-need-something-sweet-to-survive-life” kind of moment.

It doesn’t matter when you eat them — only that you DO.

side view of guava pastry on a baking sheet

Why This Recipe Works

Puff pastry makes these ridiculously easy and wonderfully flaky

Puff pastry makes these ridiculously easy and wonderfully flaky
Guava paste + cream cheese = iconic Cuban flavor combo
Only a handful of ingredients needed
They bake up in under 20 minutes
They freeze beautifully (so yes, you can always have emergency pastelitos ready)

Jump to:

Why This Recipe Works
What Is My Take on Pastelitos De Guayaba?
Make It a Meal
Easy Side Dishes
The Ingredients
Step By Step Instructions
Expert Tips
Ideas for Using Leftover Guava Paste
Common Questions
Storing Options
Recipe
💬 Comments

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What Is My Take on Pastelitos De Guayaba?

Keep them simple, keep them traditional, and let the guava + cream cheese do all the talking. No overcomplicated twists, no unnecessary extras — just that classic Cubano sweetness wrapped in flaky pastry perfection.

Make It a Meal

Brunch goals? Pair these with:

Café con Leche (because obviously)
Fresh fruit
A savory egg dish
Or go full-on sweet feast with French toast, banana bread, or pastries galore

Easy Side Dishes

If you want a full Cuban-inspired spread, add:

The Ingredients

There are only a few ingredients in these guava and cream cheese puff pastry cups. I get all the ingredients at my local grocery, but you can also buy on Amazon through the below links (affiliate links - I earn a small commission if you buy through these links to create all these amazing recipes!):

What is Guava Paste?

Guava paste is a puree of the guava fruit and sugar, with some added pectin to give it it's jelly-like consistency.

What Does Guava Paste Taste Like?

Often said to be a combination of pear and strawberry, guava paste is much sweeter than the actual guava fruit due to the added sugar.

**If you like baking with puff pastry, check out these Air Fryer Churros, Banana Nutella Pastries, these Apple Turnovers or these puff pastry Cinnamon Swirls**

Step By Step Instructions

Step1: Preheat the oven to 400F degrees. Combine the cream cheese (softened to room temperature) and sugar and whip until combined.

Step2: Place one layer of puff pastry on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. We're going to split the puff pastry into 9 squares. Just mark them without cutting.

Step3: Separate the guava paste into 12 equal portions. Place 1 portion of guava paste on each pastry square.

pieces of guava and cream cheese on puff pastry sheet

Step4: Add 1 tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture on top of the guava paste.

guava and cream cheese between 2 sheets of puff pastry

Step5: Place the second layer of puff pastry over the top and press down to seal the edges around the filling.

Step6: Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut the pastry into 9 equal squares and seal the edges with a fork.

**It's ok if the edges are not fully sealed - the filling shouldn't ooze out much.

puff pastry squares covered in egg wash and sugar

Step7: To make the egg wash, beat an egg in a small bowl mixed with 1 teaspoon of water. Brush the individual pastries with the egg wash and Sprinkle with coarse sugar crystals.

guava pastries sprinkled with sugar on a baking sheet

Step8: Bake for 15-20 minutes on the lower rack of the oven, or until pastry is golden brown and guava paste is gooey. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes.

These would be incredible served with a little cup of Cuban coffee. Learn how to make your own with this Cuban Coffee recipe from My Big Fat Cuban Family. If you prefer to purchase some Cuban Coffee, you can buy it on Amazon HERE.

Expert Tips

If the edges of the pastries won't seal well, dab them with a bit of water to help them stick - it's ok if all the edges aren't perfectly sealed!
Increase the amount of coarse sugar on the outside if you prefer a more sugary coating;
Bake on the lower rack of the oven for the best results. This enables the bottom to cook more, preventing any sogginess.

Ideas for Using Leftover Guava Paste

Once you try guava paste, you will want to start using it all the time. Check out some of the awesome ideas for using it:

Use it in the sauce for these spicy Brazilian Chicken Wings;
Guava Glazed Pork from Food and Wine;
Try this Guava Cheesecake from Coco and Ash;
It's great used in turnovers and in sweet empanadas;
Great used as a marinade for chicken or pork;
Bake it over top some brie for a real special treat!

Common Questions

Can I use guava jelly instead of guava paste?

You can, but paste is traditional and gives the best texture.

Can I make them ahead?

Yes! See freezing instructions below.

pastilitos de guyaba on a plate with more in the background

Storing Options

**These pastries are really best straight out of the oven!!

You can store these guava pastries in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat them in a 350 degree oven for 3-7 minutes, until warmed throughout. They can also be reheated in the microwave.

How to freeze pastelitos de guayaba: These pastries can also be made in advance (not baked) and frozen. After filling and sealing, place on a baking sheet in the freezer for 3 hours, until frozen. Store them in a freezer safe bag or container. To bake from frozen, increase the cook time 3-5 minutes.

Did you make these Pastelitos De Guayaba? Rate the recipe and leave a comment below to let me know what you think!

Recipe

Pastelitos De Guayaba (Cuban Guava Pastry)

These Pastelitos De Guayaba (Cuban Guava Pastry) are filled with sweet, gooey guava paste and sweetened cream cheese and baked until golden brown, resulting in a creamy, gooey, flaky, deliciously sweet pastry.

4.88 from 24 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Breakfast, Pastry

Cuisine: Cuban

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 20

Total Time: 30

Servings: servings

Calories: 386kcal

Author: Danielle Wolter

Ingredients

▢ 2 sheets puff pastry
▢ 9 tablespoons guava paste
▢ ½ cup (4 ounces) cream cheese, softened at room temperature
▢ 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
▢ 1 egg
▢ 1 tablespoon coarse sugar crystals (for sprinkling)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Combine the cream cheese (softened to room temperature) and sugar and whip until combined.
Place one layer of puff pastry on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. We're going to split the puff pastry into 9 squares. Just mark them without cutting.
Divide the guava paste in 12 equal portions.
Place 1 portion of guava paste on each pastry square. Add 1 tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture on top of the guava paste.
Place the second layer of puff pastry over the top and press down to seal the edges around the filling.
Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut the pastry into 9 equal squares and seal the edges with a fork.
To make the egg wash, beat an egg in a small bowl mixed with 1 teaspoon of water. Brush the individual pastries with the egg wash and Sprinkle with coarse sugar crystals.
Bake in the oven (on a lower rack) for 15-20 minutes until golden brown. Remove and let cool for 5 minutes.

Expert Tips:

These pastries can also be made in advance (not baked) and frozen. After filling and sealing, place on a baking sheet in the freezer for 3 hours, until frozen. Store them in a freezer safe bag or container. To bake from frozen, increase the cook time 3-5 minutes.
If the edges of the pastries won't seal well, dab them with a bit of water to help them stick - it's ok if the edges aren't completely sealed;
Increase the amount of coarse sugar on the outside if you prefer a more sugary coating;
Bake on the lower rack of the oven for the best results. This enables the bottom to cook more, preventing any sogginess.