Creamy Guava Spread Recipes

PUERTO RICAN SWEET AND SAVORY GUAVA DIP

Steps:

• In a food processor combine guava paste and 2 tablespoons of hot water. Blend until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
• Rinse out the food processor. In the food processor combine remaining ingredients and blend until smooth. Season with salt to taste.
• Transfer cream cheese mixture to a bowl and fold in guava. Refrigerate covered until ready to serve.

GUAVA BARS RECIPE

Steps:

• Grease a 9- by 13-inch baking pan with butter. Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).
• For the Crust : In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment or with a hand-held mixer, beat butter and sugar together until fluffy, about 3 minutes, then add salt and flour and beat until dough comes together. Press dough evenly into prepared pan. Cover dough with slices of guava paste.
• For the Topping : In the bowl of a food processor, combine oats, butter, salt, and sugar. Pulse 10 times. Add flour and pulse until mixture resembles wet sand. Sprinkle evenly over top of pan. Bake until top is golden, about 45 minutes. Let cool completely before cutting into bars.

PASTELITOS (GUAVA AND CREAM CHEESE PASTRIES)

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
• Prepare an egg wash: In a small bowl, beat the egg with a pinch of salt and set aside.
• 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 1 1/2 tablespoons cream cheese per pastry).
• 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.
• 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.
• Bake pastelitos until puffed and golden brown, about 15 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

CREAMY GUAVA PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• For the Crust: Position knife blade in food processor bowl; add flour, salt, and sugar then pulse. Add in the cold shortening and pulse until it looks like peas. Then add water one tablespoon at the time and then process until it forms into a ball.
• Press with floured hands to a 5 to 6 inch circle, place dough between floured wax paper and roll out to desired thickness, remove top piece of wax paper and flip dough into 9 inch deep dish pie plate, remove other sheet. Fit in pie plate with hands and trim access dough from around edge. Prick with fork all over sides and bottom. Bake at 425 degrees F for 10 to 15 minutes. Let cool completely.
• For the Creamy Filling: In medium size bowl add heavy whipping cream, and beat with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Then add powdered sugar and vanilla, continue beating until firm peaks form. Set aside. In separate bowl add cream cheese and sugar, blend until sugar dissolves. Then fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture. Spread on bottom of pie crust and refrigerate.
• For the Guava Topping: In medium size sauce pan on top of stove over medium heat add the water and bring to a simmer. Then add guava cubes stirring constantly until cubes are melted, then remove from heat and add the gelatin, sugar and food coloring, stirring until well blended. Then pour gently over cream filling and place in refrigerator till set.
• For Whipped Cream Topping: In medium size bowl add cream and beat with electric mixer until soft peaks form. Add powdered sugar and vanilla, continue beating until firm. Spoon topping into pastry bag and decorate as desired leaving some of the guava top showing.