Pastelito De Guayaba Cuban Guava Pastry Recipes

GUAVA CUBAN PASTRY (PASTELITO DE GUAYABA)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Cut guava paste into 18 thin slices.
• Unroll puff pastry and cut into 18 squares. Place a thin slice of guava paste onto each square and fold pastry piece over to make a triangle. Using a fork, pinch the edges of the triangle together. Brush with beaten egg and sprinkle with sugar if you like.
• Bake in the preheated oven until puffed and golden, 20 to 25 minutes.

PASTELITO DE GUAYABA (CUBAN GUAVA PASTRY)

Steps:

• In a blender or food processor, add all guava shells and half the syrup from one can; Process until it reaches a smooth consistency; Put puree in a medium saucepan and cook at low heat until reduced to a very thick consistency; Let guava cool and then fill into pastry bag.
• In a medium mixing bowl, add 4 ounces of water, 2 ounces of butter, and salt and mix until smooth; Then add flour and work well until all ingredients are incorporated; Continue to add water, a little at a time, working the dough until a medium-hard consistency is reached; Form dough into a ball and let rest for 15 minutes; Roll the dough into a flat square, about 1/2-inch thick.
• Place the remaining butter in the middle of square and pat down by hand to form a square about one-half the size of the dough square; Fold over the 4 corners of the dough, 1 at a time, overlapping each other so that a sealed envelope is formed enclosing the butter; Dust with flour and roll out to form a rectangle about 1/4-inch thick; Now fold 1/3 of the rectangle dough towards the middle and the remaining 1/3 over those 2; Let dough rest for 15 minutes; Now repeat process above of rolling out and folding in 3, 2 more times, resting 15 minutes between each.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Roll out a final time into a rectangle and fold ¼ of the dough on each side to the middle and then fold 1 more time down the middle to form 4 flaps in the fold; Let rest for 15 minutes; Roll out to a rectangle to about 1/8-inch thick; With a knife, cut the flattened dough into a 4-inch wide strip by length of your baking sheet; Lay strip on sheet pan lined with waxed paper and put filling lengthwise in the middle in continuous stream about 3/4-inch in diameter; Spray edges of strips with water and cover with another 4-inch strip of dough the same size as bottom; Press the edges together by hand very softly all the way around; Brush top with egg wash and bake for 35 minutes.
• Remove from oven and brush with a simple syrup over the top and bake for another 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from oven and cut crosswise into 16 pieces.

CUBAN PASTELITOS DE GUAYABA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425F. Prepare 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
• Unroll your puff pastry on a baking sheet and using a pizza cutter, make 9 squares of about 3 inches.
• Drop a teaspoon of cream cheese in the middle of each square.
• Place the guava paste slices on top.
• Fold all the corners towards the center to form a little square and place it on the parchment paper with the folds down.
• Repeat the same process with the second pastry sheet.
• Using a baking brush, gently brush the guava cheese pastries with egg wash (egg yolk + 2 drops of water).
• Bake in the oven for 12 minutes or until golden brown.
• Dust with icing sugar - optional.