Guava and Cream Cheese Pastries

Guava and Cream Cheese Pastries-16My 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.

Our House-1-2He’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.

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:

Guava and Cream Cheese Pastries-1-18Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

Cut each sheet of dough into 6 (3 inch x 4 inch) pieces.

Guava and Cream Cheese Pastries-2In 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.

Guava and Cream Cheese Pastries-3Place 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.

Guava and Cream Cheese Pastries-4Brush the edges of the pastry dough with egg wash.

Guava and Cream Cheese Pastries-5Fold the dough over the filling and pinch the edges with your fingers.

Guava and Cream Cheese Pastries-6Use a fork and press down all around the edges to crimp shut, creating a rectangular shape.

Guava and Cream Cheese Pastries-7With 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.

Guava and Cream Cheese Pastries-8Bake for 25-30 minutes, until golden brown.
 Guava and Cream Cheese Pastries-10If 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 Cream Cheese Pastries-13

Guava and Cream Cheese Pastries-15

Guava and Cheese Pastries
 
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Total time
 
Author:
Recipe type: Sweets
Serves: 12 pastries
Ingredients
  • 2 sheets of prepared puff pastry; each one 12 oz
  • 5 oz. guava paste, about ⅔ cup
  • 1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, softened
  • 1 egg yolk for the cheese filling
  • 1 egg plus 1 Tablespoon water, for egg wash
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar, plus extra for sprinkling on top of the pastries
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Cut each sheet of dough into 6 (3 inch x 4 inch) pieces.
  3. 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.
  4. Mix the cream cheese, egg yolk, sugar and vanilla until smooth in consistency.
  5. Whisk the whole egg and 1 Tablespoon of water together. This will be the egg wash.
  6. Place 1½ - 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.
  7. Brush the edges of the pastry dough with egg wash.
  8. Fold the dough over the filling and pinch the edges with your fingers.
  9. Use a fork and press down all around the edges to crimp shut, creating a rectangular shape.
  10. With a sharp knife, make diagonal slashes across the top of the pastries.
  11. Brush them with more egg wash and sprinkle with some sugar.
  12. Arrange the pastries on a parchment lined, rimmed baking sheet.
  13. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until golden brown.

 

27 Comments

  • [email protected]

    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.

      • [email protected]

        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.

  • [email protected]

    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.

  • 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!! 🙂

  • 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. 🙂

  • 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 🙂

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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!

  • 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!

  • 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 😀

  • 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

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