Guava and Cream Cheese Pastries
My Dad is a superman. I grew up convinced that there was nothing that Dad couldn’t do. He could certainly fix anything in the house, anything car related or mechanical. If he didn’t know something, that didn’t stop him from doing the research and learning by trial and error. I mean, he built our entire house from foundation to the roof, all without having any experience. From a food perspective, that means he built it from scratch.
He’s also extremely talented. Musically gifted, a phenomenal speaker and can weave stories that will have you hanging on to his every word, waiting to hear what happens next.
It’s fair to say that I’m not the only one to think that my Dad is a very special guy. He has made an impact on many different people, because he’s very kind, personable, compassionate and can make anyone feel good about themselves.
The best thing about my Dad is simply that for me he is Dad. All five of my siblings and I always knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that we were most important in his life. He would set aside anything no matter what it was if he was needed at home. Not only did we get quality time with him, he made sure there was plenty of quantity time too. He seamlessly included us in everything that he was doing.
Our family. My siblings and my parents at our parents’ house.
Many times when he was building our house I would come up to keep him company, handing him a hammer or holding up a board. Most of the time though, I would just follow him around, or sit down on an overturned bucket or pile of boards and just TALK. He would listen to all my teenage ramblings as though it was the most interesting thing in the world. Often I would excitedly join him with flour in my hair and clothes and have him taste my newest cooking experiment.
Using frozen store bought puff pastry dough to make all kinds of goodies was a favorite of mine. I especially loved making cheese filled pastries and they are still my favorite to this day. It’s perfect for beginner bakers as well as anyone who doesn’t want to slave away for hours tediously making this homemade delicacy. The puffed dough with hundreds of flaky layers has such a satisfying crunch and crispness and then the gooey, creamy filling is so comforting.
Since moving to Florida, I have discovered guava paste, which is made from a rich, sweet and slightly tart tropical guava fruit. It marries perfectly with cream cheese. If you don’t have guava paste, you can easily substitute strawberry, raspberry or any other kind of jam.
I can still remember the proud feeling I would get as I would watch Dad bite into my creation and then praise my efforts with such enthusiasm. I really wish that everyone grew up with such an amazing role model as I did. I am so thankful that my son, Nathaniel, will also benefit from his wisdom and unconditional love.
Oh, and by the way, today is his birthday.
Ingredients:
2 sheets of prepared puff pastry; each one 12 oz
5 oz. guava paste, about 2/3 cup
1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, softened
1 egg yolk for the cheese filling
1 egg plus 1 Tablespoon water, for egg wash
1/4 cup granulated sugar, plus extra for sprinkling on top of the pastries
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cut each sheet of dough into 6 (3 inch x 4 inch) pieces.
In a medium bowl, place the guava paste. It is really stiff, so add a few spoonfuls of boiling water to it and mix it up to make it easier to work with.
Mix the cream cheese, egg yolk, sugar and vanilla until smooth in consistency.
Whisk the whole egg and 1 Tablespoon of water together. This will be the egg wash.
Place 1 1/2 – 2 Tablespoons of the cream cheese filling down the center of each pastry, leaving some room around the edges. Place about 1 Tablespoon of the guava paste either next to the cream cheese filling or right on top of it.
Brush the edges of the pastry dough with egg wash.
Fold the dough over the filling and pinch the edges with your fingers.
Use a fork and press down all around the edges to crimp shut, creating a rectangular shape.
With a sharp knife, make diagonal slashes across the top of the pastries.
Brush them with more egg wash and sprinkle with some sugar.
Arrange the pastries on a parchment lined, rimmed baking sheet.
Bake for 25-30 minutes, until golden brown.
If you don’t have guava paste, you can easily substitute it with raspberry or strawberry jam, or any jam or preserves that you like, for that matter.
Guava and Cheese Pastries
Ingredients
- 2 sheets of prepared puff pastry; each one 12 oz
- 5 oz. guava paste about 2/3 cup
- 1 8 oz. package cream cheese, softened
- 1 egg yolk for the cheese filling
- 1 egg plus 1 Tablespoon water for egg wash
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar plus extra for sprinkling on top of the pastries
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Cut each sheet of dough into 6 (3 inch x 4 inch) pieces.
- In a medium bowl, place the guava paste. It is really stiff, so add a few spoonfuls of boiling water to it and mix it up to make it easier to work with.
- Mix the cream cheese, egg yolk, sugar and vanilla until smooth in consistency.
- Whisk the whole egg and 1 Tablespoon of water together. This will be the egg wash.
- Place 1 1/2 - 2 Tablespoons of the cream cheese filling down the center of each pastry, leaving some room around the edges. Place about 1 Tablespoon of the guava paste either next to the cream cheese filling or right on top of it.
- Brush the edges of the pastry dough with egg wash.
- Fold the dough over the filling and pinch the edges with your fingers.
- Use a fork and press down all around the edges to crimp shut, creating a rectangular shape.
- With a sharp knife, make diagonal slashes across the top of the pastries.
- Brush them with more egg wash and sprinkle with some sugar.
- Arrange the pastries on a parchment lined, rimmed baking sheet.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, until golden brown.
27 Comments
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Julia@Vikalinka
These look absolutely incredible, Olga. I must say I was so intrigued by your use of guava here, so exotic. 😉 I actually used to stuff my face with guava in my year in the Philippines long time ago but I would never think of baking with it. Absolutely loved your story about your dad!
olgak7
Thank you, Julia:).
Latin American cuisine is very popular here, so we get to try out all kinds of great dishes.
That’s so awesome that you lived in the Philippines. I love that you travel so much.
Julia@Vikalinka
That was my third year college internship. I lived in a small village and shared a little bamboo hut with a Philippino church planter. Among lots of interesting things that we did I tried a lot of fascinating food.
Malou@maloupen58
These pastries looks amazing and delicious and seems easy to bake. Since i am from the Philippines and there is an abundant produce of guava’s here, there is no excuse for me not to try this. As a matter of fact, it is guava season now!
By the way, Happy Birthday to your Dad.
olgak7
That’s amazing! I’m really happy that the blog gives me a chance to meet people from many other countries.
Stephanie
Delicious! I used to make guava pastries with just puff pastry and guava paste, but the cream cheese (especially with added vanilla) must take it to a whole new incredible level. Yum! Happy birthday to your dad!! 🙂
olgak7
The cream cheese really balances out the guava paste and makes it taste not too sweet.
Valya @ Valya's Taste of Home
Yum! This stuff is really good! I mean it! I love things made out of pastry. Thank you for the recipe Olga.
LOVE the story about your dad…. and your 100 acre childhood property. 🙂
olgak7
I’m glad you enjoyed my story:).
My childhood was a dream!
katie
This post made my heart so happy! Your father sounds alot like my husband. What a blessing. And what a great way to recognize him. Thanks for sharing 🙂
olgak7
You’re welcome, Katie. Great men are such a huge blessing. My husband is very much like this too, and I am so thankful to have them in my life.
Vera Romashchenko
Hi Olga this looks amazing I want to try baking these tomorrow. Where do you buy guava paste?
olgak7
We have guava paste in almost all grocery stores here in our area, Vera. I hope you like them:).
Mariyka
Thank you Olya for yummy recipe, will definitely try baking them tomorrow.
My husband’s favorites (with cheese )
Happy Birthday to your Dad (I knew him for about 7 years and always thought that he was a great person ) God bless! ☺
But never knew he has same birthday as my sister Larisa 🙂
Wow your parents are still so young and have all of their kids married.
olgak7
Yes, it’s pretty incredible. They are very young empty nesters:). Now they can just enjoy all those grandchildren and spend lots of time together.
Tallya
So heartwarming to read about your relationship with your dad! My son will love making these pastries, maybe not with guava unless I have success finding it here in WA.
olgak7
I love that you have your children baking, Tallya:). Someday, I hope Nathaniel will join me in the kitchen too. We’ll see…
Nata
Your dad is awesome! He always had us in awe when he was the youth choir director. he would give inspiring talks about God and his energy and passion where amazing! Best times in youth choir! Tell him happy birthday day and for giving his time to the youth!
Nata
*thank you for giving your time to the youth
olgak7
I have such awesome memories from choir. I’m so glad that I got to have my Dad as the director. He did such a phenomenal job. Thank you for your kind words.
Tanya
They look amazing! I really want to try these with guava now… Also, really enjoyed your reminiscence about your dad, with whom I share a birthday apparently. Blessings to you!
olgak7
Happy Birthday, Tanya!
I’m so glad you enjoyed this post.
June @ How to Philosophize with Cake
Aw what a sweet post 🙂 I’m sure these were perfect for celebrating a special birthday! Love the guava in here, guava desserts are the best 😀
olgak7
Thank you, June:).
Karen
These look delicious! Do you think they would work with canned fruit filling instead of jam?
olgak7
Thank you, Karen. I’m sure the fruit filling will work too.
Z-S
Hello Olga,
I really like an idea how you fold those pastries.
I will use the same idea for my apply strudels.
The problem is that that most of my family members loves cinnamon and some of them doesn’t.
Since I have only one big sheet, it can be divided into few and some of them can be with a cinnamon and some of them without cinnamon.
thank you for a great idea