Last Updated on December 24, 2023
Today, we’re going to be looking at a Puerto Rican guava cake recipe and how to make the perfect Puerto Rican desserts. There’s a huge selection of Puerto Rican desserts to choose from, many of which are incredibly simple. But today, we’re going to focus on Panetela.
What Is Puerto Rican Guava Cake?
You may know it as Puerto Rican Guava cake, or by its more traditional name – Panetela de Guayaba. It may seem like an unfamiliar combination, but cream cheese and guava are a classic combination of ingredients in Puerto Rico. Cream cheesecake, with delicious tropical guava – you absolutely can’t go wrong with this recipe.
Making Desserts With Guava Paste
Guava paste is incredibly common in Latin America, and it’s becoming increasingly popular in the United States. But what is it? It’s almost jelly-like and is extremely dense. It’s made using the fruit puree of guava and sugar. It’s most commonly used in sweet dishes, but it can be used in savory dishes too.
Guava pastry puffs
If you’ve seen guava paste before, it’s likely in guava pastry puffs – this is because it’s one of the most common uses of guava paste. To make these pastry puffs, all you need to do is combine egg whites, cream cheese, and guava paste in a bowl. Layout the pastry and place your guava paste mix in the center of your pastry. It makes for a delicious filling and is incredibly flavorful.
Guava cheesecake
Another great use of guava paste is in cheesecake. While we already know that cheese and guava taste delicious together – this combination works perfectly. When you’re creating the top layer of your cheesecake, just add some guava paste to give your cheesecake a fruity kick.
If you’re looking for savory dishes to add guava paste to, you can try adding pork tenderloin, or even as a tasty addition to a sandwich filling. It also pairs perfectly with cream cheese hors d’oeuvres; which is particularly helpful if you’re hosting a dinner party or an event.
Learn more about Dominican Tres Leches Cake Recipe: How To.
Puerto Rican Guava Cake Recipe
So now we know what Puerto Rican guava cake is, let’s take a look at how to make it from scratch. We’ll be adapting this Puerto Rican Panetela recipe from Nata Knows Best.
Ingredients
The ingredients you’ll need for this easy guava cake recipe are:
- 2 cups of sifted cake flour
- 10-14oz of guava paste
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup of sugar
- 1 stick of softened unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon of almond extract
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 1/3 cup of powdered sugar
Recipe
Now follow these simple steps to make your cake:
Step 1: Preheat
Preheat your oven to 350F.
Step 2: Whisk ingredients
Add your butter (softened) and sugar into a bowl. Using a whisk, mix the ingredients until you have a light and fluffy result. This will usually take a few minutes
Step 3: Adding eggs
Add the eggs gradually and be sure to mix well
Step 4: Adding extracts
Once combined well and you have a smooth mixture, add the almond and vanilla extracts and mix well
Step 5: Preparing ingredients
Using a separate bowl, add the salt, baking powder, and flour and combine well
Step 6: Mixing ingredients
Gradually mix the wet and dry ingredients. The batter will likely be thick, but make sure you mix well and don’t add too much too quickly
Step 7: Preparing batter in pans
In the meantime, line a baking pan with parchment paper. Pour in around half the cake batter and ensure the layer of batter is evenly spread
Step 8: Adding paste
Now it’s time to add your guava paste. Add slices that are around a quarter of an inch thick and you’ll want to cover the entire layer
Step 9: Time to add more batter
Now add the remaining half of your batter mixture and ensure it’s evenly spread and smooth
Step 10: Baking the cake
Place your guava cake into the oven for around 30-35 minutes. A light brown color should start to form
Step 11: Cooling
Remove from the oven and leave the cake to cool on a wire rack
Step 12: Enjoy!
Once cool, you can sprinkle your powdered sugar over the top of the cake
Popular Puerto Rican Desserts
If you’re looking for more Puerto Rican desserts to try at home, why not try one of these? These 20 Puerto Rican dessert ideas are inspired by Insanely Good Recipes.
- Puerto Rican Flan de Queso (Cheese Flan) – custard and cheesecake? Is there anything better?
- Arroz Con Dulce (Puerto Rican Rice Pudding) – whether you like it hot or cold, it makes for the perfect dessert
- Mantecaditos (Puerto Rican Guava Thumbprint Cookies) – buttery and almond-flavored, with a hint of guava jam – absolutely delicious
- Guava Cheese Empanadas – filled with guava jam or guava paste, these will go down a treat
- Tembleque de Coco (Coconut Pudding) – it’s smooth and simple but full of coconut flavor
- Puerto Rican Flancocho (Flan Cake) – if you’re looking for a moist and tender cake, this is the cake for you
- Pumpkin Flan – perfect for when fall comes around again
- Puerto Rican Pineapple Rum Cake – if you’re looking for a boozy, tropical party in your mouth, this is the choice for you
- Quesitos (Cream Cheese Pasties) – you can add caramel, fruit compote, or even chocolate to make this dessert even more delicious
- Pan de Mallorca (Mallorca Bread) – it’s an already sweet bread that you can fill with even sweeter fillings. Nutella or guava paste is the perfect filling choice
Conclusion
I hope this article has helped you to perfect a Puerto Rican guava cake recipe. And also introduced you to some popular Puerto Rican desserts that you may not have known. If you know of any others, please let me know. Puerto Rican guava cake couldn’t be easier to make and it’s absolutely delicious.
Do you know of any other tips and tricks when it comes to making Puerto Rican guava cake? Or know of any other Puerto Rican desserts that didn’t make the list, that you’d like to share? If so, please feel free to let me know in the comments below.
Read more about Jamaican Black Cake Icing Recipe.