This popular Cuban dessert is super easy and delicious. We take a shortcut on the pastry so you'll be able to have these ready to enjoy in less than an hour.
Gather your ingredients. Whoops, I left the sugar out of this picture.
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Preheat your oven to 375°F.
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Lay a piece of parchment paper on your cookie sheet. For this batch I'm using two cookie sheets.
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Now about the puff pastry: in Latino markets as well as general supermarkets you can find pre-made precut puff pastry. I usually use Goya brand but the market was out.
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I also hear great things about Pepperidge Farms brand puff pastry sheets. Two sheets come to a package so if you use these or a similar product, you will need to cut them into squares for this recipe.
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This is the brand I'm using today. It comes in precut circles, 12 to a package. Whichever puff pastry you end up using, you want to first make sure that the dough is defrosted.
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Lay 6 puff pastry circles (or squares) on each cookie sheet. (By the way, you can also make a pastry dough from scratch but then this recipe would not busy as fast and easy).
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This is the guava paste I use. It comes in a can so be sure to check out my other guide on making art out of tin can lids. You'll want to save this lid because it is huge!!!
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This is what the pasta de guayaba (guava paste) looks like inside the can..
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Cut pieces of the guava paste and place them on the pastry circles like this. We're going to be folding these circles over so also leave a small border between the guava paste and the edge.
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Next put on the cream cheese.
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Next we're folding these circles in half to create our "half-moon" pastries.
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Next we crimp the edges with a fork.
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Take the egg and put it in a small bowl.
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Beat/whisk the egg well.
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Next we'll brush the egg onto each of the pastries. This will give it a golden color.
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Then sprinkle some white granulated sugar on the top of each pastry.
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Here are our Pastelitos de Guayaba, ready to go into the oven!
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In you go! We'lll cook these for about 20 minutes, again that's in a 375°F oven, until they are golden brown.
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In goes the second batch! See how nicely the first batch (on the left) is coming along and starting to puff up and turn golden?! Can you smell them?!
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Our pastries are done and out of the oven they come! Yum!
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Inside view - the guava paste and cream cheese have melted and blended together.
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Transfer to a platter and serve warm! This recipe made 12 pastelitos - so delicious and easy. Be sure to let me know what you think and follow me for other great recipes and crafts! Enjoy!
I love to create! All kinds of things. Food, crafts, jewelry, art, photos, theater, events, history, social justice. My proudest creation is my daughter!
@ SA - I've added a photo of the pastry cut in half as per your request. It's a little hard to see how the cream cheese and guava paste have melted together. But this should give you a general idea of what it looks like.
Felecia if possible please put picture of the ready pastry cut into half. I really want to see how cream cheese and guava paste blend in. I am so happy you joined snapguide :)
What's the 'Saltenas' in English, please? It looks like pie crust to me. Puff Pastry is very different. Pepperidge Farms have Puff Pastry, but very very delicate and it poofs up and is super thin and flaky... The picture of the turnovers (I cannot remember the spelling of the actual dessert)... Look like the crust is not delicate nor flaky. Which should this recipe use? Or should one make their own.crust?
Virginia Jones 9 months ago
Felicia Gustin (author) 10 months ago
Lisa Trifiro 10 months ago
Jeanelle France 10 months ago
S A 10 months ago
Graciela Buendia 10 months ago
chloe stylinson 10 months ago
chloe stylinson 10 months ago
Heidi Feldman 10 months ago
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Heidi Feldman 10 months ago
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