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Guava & Cream Cheese Pastries (Quesitos)

These Puerto Rican Quesitos are essentially like cheese danishes but made the Puerto Rican way with sweetened cream cheese and guava paste in the middle! Sweet, crispy, tender and soft, they're perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine: Dessert, Puerto Rican
Servings: 8
Author: Hayley Parker, The Domestic Rebel

Ingredients

  • One box (2 sheets) puff pastry thawed
  • 8 ounces (One 8-ounce package) cream cheese softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar divided
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup guava paste
  • 1 large egg lightly beaten
  • 1/3 cup corn syrup

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside.
  • On a clean, flat work surface, unroll each puff pastry sheet, working with one at a time. Cut the sheet into 4 equal-size squares. You should now have 8 squares.
  • In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, 1/4 cup of the granulated sugar, and the vanilla extract together with an electric mixer until combined and smooth, about 1 minute. Add the cream cheese mixture (about 2 Tablespoons-worth) in a line in the center of the square. Add 2 Tablespoons-worth of the guava paste and break it up in a line next to the cream cheese. Brush the edges of the pastry square with egg. Fold one side over the filling and seal with the other side, creating a rectangular shape. Crimp the edges with a fork to seal. Place the pastries about 3" apart on the baking sheets, about 4 per sheet. Brush the tops of the pastry with the egg wash; sprinkle with some of the granulated sugar.
  • Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and puffy. Immediately remove from the oven and brush on the corn syrup. Sprinkle with the remaining granulated sugar. Serve warm or at room temperature.