Guava and Cream Cheese Pastelitos Recipe

By
María del Mar Cuadra
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María del Mar Cuadra
María del Mar Cuadra is a food stylist, recipe developer, and art director. She has written three cookbooks and worked for America's Test Kitchen.
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Updated Aug. 30, 2018
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Notes:Guava paste is available in the Latin American aisle of most supermarkets and also in a variety of online stores. In a pinch, quince paste is an acceptable substitute.

I used one (17.3-ounce) package of Pepperidge Farm brand frozen puff pastry sheets for this recipe, which contains two puff pastry sheets.

Dufour brand frozen puff pastry comes in 14-ounce packages containing only one sheet of puff pastry. If using Dufour you will need two packages, and will get ten pastelitos, rather than eight. Roll the thawed pastry sheets out to 12- by 16-inches. Cut off a 12- by 4-inch strip. Cut remaining 12- by 12-inch piece into four 6-inch squares. Proceed with recipe, but increase guava to 10 ounces and cream cheese to 12 ounces. Fold the square pieces of pastry diagonally into triangles, and fold the two 12- by 4-inch strips in half over the filling to make rectangular pastelitos. Increase baking time to 15 to 20 minutes.

Both versions of the recipe may be halved. Adjust oven rack to middle position if doing so.

Recipe Details

Guava and Cream Cheese Pastelitos Recipe

Active 20 mins
Total 45 mins
Serves 8 servings

Ingredients

  • All-purpose flour for dusting counter
  • 2 sheets (one 17.3-ounce package) frozen puff pastry, thawed according to package instructions (see notes)
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, cut into small pieces and softened
  • 6 tablespoons sour cream
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 8 ounces guava paste, cut into 1/4-inch cubes
  • 2 egg yolks

Directions

  1. Adjust oven racks to upper third and lower third positions and preheat oven to 400°F. Line two rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.

  2. Lightly dust the counter and rolling pin with flour. Roll out each puff pastry sheet to a 12-inch square. Cut each into quarters to make four 6-inch squares.

  3. Beat cream cheese, 1/4 cup sour cream, lemon juice, and salt until light and fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes.

  4. Place 2 tablespoons cream cheese mixture in center of each square. Evenly distribute guava cubes among squares, arranging them on top of the cream cheese mixture.

  5. In a small bowl, beat egg yolks and remaining 2 tablespoons sour cream. Brush edges of each square with egg wash, then, fold the squares diagonally to form triangles. Seal the edges by pressing them with the tines of a fork. Brush triangles with egg wash.

  6. Place the pastelitos on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 1 1/2 inches apart. Bake until puffed and golden, 12 to 15 minutes, alternating baking sheets halfway through baking. Transfer baking sheets to cooling racks. Cool pastelitos on sheets 5 to 10 minutes prior to serving. May be eaten at room temperature. Pastelitos are best eaten day they’re made.

Special equipment

rolling pin, ruler, pastry brush, electric mixer

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