Guava Pastelito Cupcakes Food

GUAVA CHEESE TURNOVERS (GUAVA PASTELILLOS)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Sprinkle the sugar on your work surface to prevent the dough from sticking. Roll out each sheet of puff pastry to an 8 by 8-inch square. Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut each sheet into 4 squares.
• Make the turnovers: Set a pastry square in front of you with 1 of the corners pointing toward you. Place 1 piece of cream cheese diagonally over the center of the bottom of the square. Top with a piece of guava paste. Brush the edges of the square with beaten egg. Fold the upper half of the square over the filling to make a neat triangle. Crimp the edges with a fork. Repeat with the remaining turnovers, placing them on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet as you go.
• Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown and puffy.
• While the turnovers are baking, mix the confectioners' sugar with the milk and vanilla, stirring to dissolve any lumps. Set aside.
• Cool the turnovers on a rack for 10 to 15 minutes, then drizzle the glaze over them. Serve warm or at room temperature.

PASTELITOS (GUAVA AND CREAM CHEESE PASTRIES)

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
• Prepare an egg wash: In a small bowl, beat the egg with a pinch of salt and set aside.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll one sheet of puff pastry into an 8-by-12-inch rectangle roughly the size of a standard sheet of paper. (Keep the other puff pastry sheet in the refrigerator.) Dust off any excess flour and lay the rolled pastry sheet on the parchment-lined baking sheet. Dip a pastry brush into the egg wash, and paint a line in lengthwise along the center of the pastry sheet, followed by three crosswise lines, evenly spaced, forming a grid of 8 rectangles, each approximately 3 inches wide and 4 inches long. Brush edges with egg wash. Lay a slice of guava paste in the center of each rectangle (or dot with dollops of jam or preserves, if using). Spread some of the cream cheese, if using, on top of the guava paste (about 1 1/2 tablespoons cream cheese per pastry).
• Remove the second sheet of puff pastry from the refrigerator, and roll it out into an 8-by-11-inch rectangle, dusting with flour as needed to prevent sticking. Lay the second sheet of puff pastry on top of the first. Using the side of your palm, press around and between the mounds of filling, pressing out any excess air, and to glue the top pastry to the bottom, creating 8 even, rectangular pockets. Paint the top sheet of puff pastry with egg wash. Sprinkle the surface with sugar.
• Using a knife or bench scraper, cut out and separate the 8 pastelitos following the original grid in between the indentations in the dough. Trim the perimeter to neaten the rectangles. The dough should still be cool to the touch; if it is warm, return the pastelitos to the refrigerator on the baking sheet for 10 minutes to firm up before baking.
• Bake pastelitos until puffed and golden brown, about 15 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

GUAVA CREAM CHEESE CUPCAKES - QUEQUITO DE GUAYABA

Steps:

• Pour 2 cups of guava nectar into a measuring cup and set aside.
• Place the remaining guava nectar in a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, and simmer until liquid is reduced to 1 1/4 cups. Remove from heat and let cool.
• Preheat oven to 350 F. Line 24 cupcake molds with paper liners.
• Prepare the cake batter: Place the cake mix in the bowl of a standing mixer. Add the 1 1/4 cup of guava nectar that was reduced on the stove. Add the eggs, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, and lime zest. Mix until well blended.
• Mix in a few drops of red food coloring (optional) and blend until color is solid.
• Divide batter among the prepared cupcake pans.
• Bake cupcakes until they spring back lightly to the touch, about 20 to 25 minutes.
• Prepare the guava glaze: Place the reserved 2 cups of guava nectar in the same medium saucepan along with 1/2 cup sugar and a pinch of salt. Bring mixture to a simmer and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, or until slightly thickened.
• Remove from heat, and carefully transfer 1 cup of the syrup to a heatproof bowl.
• Place the cornstarch in a small bowl and whisk 1 to 2 tablespoons of the guava syrup into the cornstarch to make a smooth paste.
• Return remaining syrup to the stove, whisk in the cornstarch, and bring to a simmer. Continue to cook, stirring, until mixture thickens.
• Cook for 1 to 2 minutes more, then remove from heat and stir in the butter. Strain if needed. Set guava glaze aside to cool.
• When the cupcakes come out of the oven, prick them gently with a toothpick, then brush the cupcakes evenly with the reserved guava syrup (the guava-sugar mixture without the cornstarch), letting it soak into the cake.
• Let the cupcakes cool.
• Prepare the frosting: Place the cream cheese, warm guava jelly, and a pinch of salt in the bowl of a standing mixer and beat until fluffy.
• Add the confectioners' sugar in parts, alternating with the milk and vanilla, beating well after each addition, until frosting is light and fluffy.
• Spread or pipe frosting onto cooled cupcakes. Drizzle the guava glaze (mixture with cornstarch) over the cupcakes, or swirl the glaze into the frosting.

GUAVA PASTELITO CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 16 cupcake cups with paper liners.
• Cut guava paste into medium squares and place in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 2 minutes. Whisk until melted down but still slightly chunky, about the consistency of jelly (heat more if necessary).
• Beat brown sugar, butter, and eggs together with a mixer in a large bowl until creamy. Add flour, baking powder, vanilla extract, and salt; stir until halfway mixed. Pour in guava nectar and mix until everything is fully incorporated. Fold in heated guava paste until evenly distributed. Mix in red food coloring.
• Fill each prepared cupcake cup evenly with batter.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool completely.
• While the cupcakes are cooling, blend cream cheese, butter, and vanilla extract with an electric mixer on low speed until smooth. Add confectioners' sugar and red food coloring. Mix on low speed until fully blended. Chill for 10 to 15 minutes. Frost cooled cupcakes.