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Published on by Jamie Silva
If you’re new here, hi, my name is Jamie and I’m absolutely obsessed with all things guava.
Growing up in a Cuban family means you were brought up with guava fruit, guava paste, guava nectar, and all types of homemade recipes using guava.
If you’ve never heard of guava, I’m happy to share more about this amazing fruit!
What is Guava Fruit?
Guava fruit is a sour-sweet tropical fruit that is native to the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. They are oval in shape with rough light green skin and their insides are a light pink color.
The tropical fruit began growing commercially in Florida and Hawaii in the 1800s when it hit American soil. Now, India is the number one producer of guava fruit. We have guava everywhere here in South Florida. Our local grocery stores carry it as well as fresh markets.
What does Guava taste like?
There are several varieties of guava fruits but the most common one tastes a little sour-sweet like a mix between a strawberry and a lemon.
What is Guava Paste?
Now because of the fruit’s high pectin content, you’re able to make guava jams, guava marmalade, andguava pastefrom the fruit.
Guava pasteis essentially like fruit leather made by cooking the guava fruit with sugar (and sometimes fresh lime juice) until it becomes a very thick [delicious] paste.
While the jams and marmalade are drippy, theguava pasteis formed into thick and sticky block that’s still soft enough to slice.
Easy Guava Recipes
While you’ll usually see sweet recipes made with guava, you can make savory recipes with guava too.
Here are a few Cuban-inspired guava recipes that you must add to your menu rotations this week!
1. Pastelitos de Guayaba + Queso (Guava Cheese Pastries!)
Pastelitos de Guayaba + Queso (Guava Cheese Pastries!)
Pastelitos de Guayaba y Queso! Cuban guava and cheese pastries are made with storebought puff pastry and then filled with guava paste and softened cream cheese. Just 4 ingredients! You and your family will fall in love with these easy-to-make sweet, tart guava cheese turnovers. Enjoy them for breakfast or as a delicious snack.
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2. The Best Guava Margarita (On-the-Rocks!)
The Best Guava Margarita (On-the-Rocks!)
A refreshing guava margarita on the rocks! Made with guava nectar, coconut water, fresh lime juice, tequila, and a touch of agave. No margarita mixes here! The coconut-lime salted rim and lots of ice are essential. You'll find instructions for how to make a single serving margarita or a pitcher margaritas for a group.
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3. Guava Cake Bars (Cuban Masa Real de Guayaba)
Guava Cake Bars (Cuban Masa Real de Guayaba)
Transport your taste buds to a tropical paradise with these highly-rated Guava Cake Bars, a beloved dessert renowned for its irresistible blend of rich, buttery cake layers embracing a sweet guava paste filling. Whether you're a seasoned baker or a kitchen novice, our Masa Real recipe is designed to evoke sweet memories that make it a dessert worth celebrating.
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4. Guava BBQ Sauce From Scratch (No Ketchup!)
Guava BBQ Sauce From Scratch (No Ketchup!)
Tangy, sweet guava BBQ sauce made from scratch without ketchup. Easy-to-make, on the stovetop, and ready in just 15 minutes. Perfect for cooking, grilling, and brushing on chicken, pork, ribs, and more. You won't get enough of this Cuban-inspired bbq sauce!
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5. Guava BBQ Glazed Chicken Wings
Guava BBQ Glazed Chicken Wings
Tangy, sweet chicken wings are tossed with a homemade Cuban sazon completa spice blend and then glazed with a homemade guava bbq sauce. Whether you bake, air fry, or grill these guava bbq chicken wings until crispy perfection, they will always be a hit!
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6. Torticas de Guayaba (Guava Jam Thumbprint Cookies)
Torticas de Guayaba (Guava Jam Thumbprint Cookies)
Classic buttery shortbread thumbprint cookies made with 6 ingredients and filled with sweet and tart guava jam. Just 25 minutes from start to finish! These Torticas de Guayaba (Guava Jam Thumbprint Cookies) are similar to my torticas de moron with the exception of the guava. They're great for gift giving too!
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7. Guava Jam Bars with Coconut Macadamia Oat Crumble Topping
Guava Jam Bars with Coconut Macadamia Oat Crumble Topping
Salty, sweet jam bars made with thick guava jam sandwiched between a buttery macadamia nut, shredded coconut, and oat crumble topping. An easy-to-make, simple tropical treat for breakfast, brunch, or any day of the week!
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8. Guava Caramel Bread Pudding Recipe
Guava Caramel Bread Pudding Recipe
A sweet, moist, cinnamon-spiced, and boozy bread pudding recipe drizzled with a homemade guava caramel sauce and candied maple pecans.
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Soft, fluffy muffins made with swirled almond butter and guava jelly. A fun spin on PB&J muffins for the perfect on-the-go breakfast!
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10. 3-Ingredient Elderflower Guava Mimosa
3-Ingredient Elderflower Guava Mimosa
This refreshingly sweet guava mimosa is made with guava nectar, elderflower liqueur, and champagne. Only 3 ingredients! You'll enjoy notes of strawberry, grapefruit, lychee, and pear in this delicious pale pink co*cktail. Perfect for brunch, happy hour, Mother's Day, bridal showers, and just about any day!
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11. Easy Guava Swirl Cheesecake with Maria Cookie Crust
Easy Guava Swirl Cheesecake with Maria Cookie Crust
This guava cheesecake is rich and creamy with swirls of guava marmalade on a buttery Maria cookie crust. You and your family won't get enough!
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12. Guava BBQ Glazed Meatloaf Recipe
Guava BBQ Glazed Meatloaf Recipe
A tender, flavorful, easy meatloaf recipe made with ground beef and ground pork then glazed with a homemade guava bbq sauce.
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13. Guava Cranberry Sauce
Guava Cranberry Sauce
An easy and unique cranberry sauce recipe made with a Cuban twist using guava marmalade mixed with whole cranberries and orange juice.
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14. DIY Iced Guava Passionfruit Drink (15 Minute Recipe!)
DIY Iced Guava Passionfruit Drink (15 Minute Recipe!)
This Iced Guava Passionfruit Drink (a Starbucks copycat recipe) takes just 15 minutes to whip up at home. It’s made with unsweetened coconut milk, guava nectar, passionfruit juice, and a 5-minute homemade pineapple-ginger syrup. A tall glass + lots of ice are essential. It’s creamy, slightly sweet and so refreshing — a tropical paradise in a cup!
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15. White Chocolate Guava Magic Cookie Bars
White Chocolate Guava Magic Cookie Bars
Magic cookie bars made with Maria cookies, sweetened condensed milk, guava paste, white chocolate chips, sliced almonds, + toasted coconut.
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16. Guava Basil Moscow Mule
Guava Basil Moscow Mule
Guava Basil Moscow Mule. A twist to the traditional refreshing Vodka co*cktail made with spicy ginger beer, guava nectar, fresh lime and sweet basil. Delicious drink for any time of year!
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17. Guava Rice Krispie Treats with Maria Cookies
Guava Rice Krispie Treats with Maria Cookies
Deliciously sweet treats made with crispy rice cereal, guava marmalade marshmallow cream, cubes of guava paste and crumbled Maria cookies!
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18. Guava Cheese Pop Tarts
Guava Cheese Pop Tarts
These semi-homemade guava and cream cheese pop tarts are super easy to make using refrigerated pie crust and condensed milk for drizzling. Theperfect combinationof a Cuban treat on an American classic.
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19. Baked Guava Mimosa Glazed Doughnuts
Baked Guava Mimosa Glazed Doughnuts
Turn everyone's favorite brunch drink into a guava glazed doughnuts! Soft, fluffy, baked guava glazed donuts topped with a champagne and guava marmalade glaze!
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20. Fluffy Pancakes with Guava-Maple Syrup
Fluffy Pancakes with Guava-Maple Syrup
Start your mornings off right with these delicious, fluffy pancakes topped with an easy-to-make homemade guava-maple syrup for the perfect sweet touch!
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Easy Guava Recipes: Pastelitos de Guayaba And More!
5 from 5 votes
By: Jamie Silva
These Cuban guava pastries are one of my favorite recipes made with guava!
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Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 25 minutes mins
Total Time 35 minutes mins
Course Appetizer, Breakfast, Brunch, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine Cuban
Servings 9 pastries
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Ingredients
- 1 package puff pastry sheets I like Pepperidge Farm
- 1 package guava paste I like the Conchita brand
- 1 package cream cheese** optional the block over the spreadable kind
- 1 egg** whisked
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Thaw the puff pastry according to package directions, usually about 20-30 minutes. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
Cut guava into thin slices. If using cream cheese, cut the block into slices too. Unfold one of the pastry sheets and place it on the cookie sheet.
Place 6 slices of guava per pastry sheet fold about 1-2 inches apart (you’ll have 18 slices total on the entire pastry sheet). Add cream cheese over guava paste slices (optional).
Unfold the second pastry sheet and place it over the other one that now has the guava paste slices.
Cut into 9 squares and score the tops of each one. No need to divide the squares. Leave everything intact. Brush egg wash on each one to get that flaky crust.
Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
Recipe adapted from my friend, Marta Darby, atMy Big, Fat, Cuban Family.
—
*These pastries are best served right out of the oven. You can place in an airtight container and reheat them for 10 seconds in the microwave. Careful, the guava can get really hot and burn your tongue.
**To make these pastries vegan, you can sub cream cheese forvegan cream cheeseand egg wash foralmond milk.
***The nutritional facts listed are a rough estimate since this recipe varies in the amount of guava and cream cheese added to each pastry. Use your best judgment.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 servingCalories: 290 kcalCarbohydrates: 33.1 gProtein: 4.8 gFat: 16.1 gSaturated Fat: 8.7 gCholesterol: 36 mgSodium: 195 mgPotassium: 26 mgFiber: 2.1 gSugar: 14.4 gCalcium: 10 mgIron: 2.3 mg
Did You Make This?I want to know! below or tag @asassyspoon on social media!
JAMIE SILVA
Miami native, first-generation Cuban-American, and the founder, recipe developer, and food photographer behind A Sassy Spoon. Since 2016, Jamie has been developing recipes inspired by her rich Cuban heritage and Latin-inspired recipes influenced by her hometown of Miami.
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Reader Interactions
Comments
Veronica Barrientos says
You have great recipesReply
Theresa says
Love your recipes but do you have a recipe for guava curd? Looked every where no one has one that I can find!! Gurrr! Thank you inadvance.Reply
