Guava and Cream Cheese Pastelitos (Printable)

Flaky golden pastries filled with sweet guava and cream cheese, these classic Cuban treats are ready in 35 minutes.

# Ingredient List:

→ Pastry

01 - 1 package puff pastry sheets, thawed (approximately 14 oz)

→ Filling

02 - 5.3 oz guava paste, cut into thin slices
03 - 3.5 oz cream cheese, softened

→ Topping

04 - 1 large egg, beaten for egg wash
05 - 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, optional for sprinkling

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Roll out the puff pastry sheets on a lightly floured surface. Cut each sheet into 8 equal rectangles, yielding 16 total rectangles.
03 - Place 8 pastry rectangles on the prepared baking sheet.
04 - On each rectangle, place a thin slice of guava paste and approximately 1 tablespoon of softened cream cheese, leaving a quarter-inch border around the edges.
05 - Brush the borders with water. Top each filled rectangle with a second pastry rectangle and press the edges firmly to seal.
06 - Use a fork to crimp the sealed edges. Gently score the top surface with a knife to allow steam to escape during baking.
07 - Brush the tops of all pastries with beaten egg. Sprinkle with sugar if desired.
08 - Bake for 18 to 20 minutes until golden brown and puffed.
09 - Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • They come together in under 40 minutes, which means you can surprise someone with homemade pastries without the usual stress.
  • The contrast of buttery, crispy pastry against sweet-tart guava and creamy cheese hits different every single time.
  • They taste just as good at room temperature, so they're perfect for taking places or enjoying throughout the day.
02 -
  • Don't skip letting the cream cheese soften or you'll spend frustrating minutes trying to spread it without tearing the pastry—learned that the hard way on my third attempt.
  • If your pastry sheets are still cold when you're working, they'll crack instead of fold, so patience with thawing genuinely changes everything about the final texture.
03 -
  • Watch the oven during the last few minutes instead of just setting a timer; every oven runs a little different, and you want to catch them the moment they turn that perfect golden color.
  • Keep your filling ingredients close to the same temperature—cold guava paste and cold cream cheese are harder to work with, so let them sit out for a few minutes before you start assembling.
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