Pastelitode De Queso Cuban Puff Pastry With Cream Cheese Food

PASTELITOS DE QUESO (CUBAN CREAM CHEESE PASTRIES/QUESITOS)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400ºF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut each pastry sheet into 9 squares (4x4) and place them on the baking sheet.
• Carefully spread one tablespoon of the softened cream cheese, diagonally, from the left corner of the square to the bottom right corner of the square.
• Brush the corners with egg wash. Bring the bottom left corner of the pastry over the cream cheese and connect to the top right corner, pressing down gently to seal. Repeat with all the pastry squares.
• Brush each pastry square with egg wash and sprinkle evenly with the granulated sugar.
• Place the pastries on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes. Serve and enjoy!

PASTELITODE DE QUESO: CUBAN PUFF PASTRY WITH CREAM CHEESE

Steps:

• Combine and mix the flour, water, pork lard and salt. Mix until the dough is not sticky but not firm (do not over mix), finger should leave a dent. Place the dough on a large, floured work surface. Using hands, stretch the dough out into a large, even rectangle. Spread the cubes of margarine evenly on top. Vertically fold each end to meet in the middle. Overlapping, in thirds, fold horizontally. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough to 1 1/2 inches thick. Fold into thirds vertically and then again horizontally. Transfer to a baking tray and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Once rested, transfer the dough to a floured work surface and roll out to a 1-inch thick rectangle. Dust off any excess flour and repeat the folds, 4 folds in total. Transfer to a baking tray, wrap and refrigerate for 30 to 60 minutes.
• Lay the dough on a sugared work surface. Sprinkle the rest of the sugar on top of the dough. Roll the dough out to a 3/4-inch thick rectangle. Make sure to press the sugar into the dough. Cut the dough into 3-inch squares. Place a heaping tablespoon of cream cheese in each center. Wet the dough's edges with water. Fold one corner into the cream cheese and continue to roll like a cigar. Press 3 fingers flat on top of the pastry. Place in the oven for until golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Serve with a cafe con leche.

PASTELITODE DE QUESO: CUBAN PUFF PASTRY WITH CREAM CHEESE

Steps:

• Combine and mix the flour, water, pork lard and salt. Mix until the dough is not sticky but not firm (do not over mix), finger should leave a dent. Place the dough on a large, floured work surface. Using hands, stretch the dough out into a large, even rectangle. Spread the cubes of margarine evenly on top. Vertically fold each end to meet in the middle. Overlapping, in thirds, fold horizontally. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough to 1 1/2 inches thick. Fold into thirds vertically and then again horizontally. Transfer to a baking tray and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Once rested, transfer the dough to a floured work surface and roll out to a 1-inch thick rectangle. Dust off any excess flour and repeat the folds, 4 folds in total. Transfer to a baking tray, wrap and refrigerate for 30 to 60 minutes.
• Lay the dough on a sugared work surface. Sprinkle the rest of the sugar on top of the dough. Roll the dough out to a 3/4-inch thick rectangle. Make sure to press the sugar into the dough. Cut the dough into 3-inch squares. Place a heaping tablespoon of cream cheese in each center. Wet the dough's edges with water. Fold one corner into the cream cheese and continue to roll like a cigar. Press 3 fingers flat on top of the pastry. Place in the oven for until golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Serve with a cafe con leche.

QUESITOS (PUERTO RICAN CHEESE-STUFFED PUFF PASTRY)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Cut cream cheese into 1/4-inch thick slices; place cut side-down on a board and cut into logs.
• Place 1 cup sugar into a small bowl; place cream cheese logs into sugar and roll to coat. Set aside.
• Cut each puff pastry sheet evenly into 3 to 4 squares, no bigger than 5 to 6 inches each. Place 1 square in front of you with 1 corner pointing down. Place 1 sugar-covered cheese log about 1/3 up from the bottom corner; proceed to fold pastry around it in the same manner as an egg roll, with the bottom corner over cheese, side corners towards the center, then roll from bottom, up. Brush some water in the last corner to seal roll.
• Place quesito on the prepared pan, seam-side down. Repeat with all squares, making sure there is at least 1-inch between them.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and let sit for 5 minutes. Brush tops with corn syrup.

CUBAN CHEESE TURNOVERS (EMPANADA DE QUESO)

Steps:

• Combine flour and salt in a large bowl.
• Cut in 1/2 lb butter with pastry blender.
• Add one egg and vinegar.
• Slowly add water, as needed, mixing to form the dough.
• Turn dough out onto plastic wrap and knead until smooth, only a few seconds. Wrap well and chill 30 minutes.
• Saute onion in 2 T butter.
• Add spinach over medium heat.
• Cool, then combine with cheese, hazelnuts, and raisins.
• On lightly floured surface, roll half the chilled dough to 1/8" thick.
• Cut out 3" circles.
• Spoon 1 T filling into the center of each circle.
• Make egg wash with beaten egg and 2 T water.
• Brush egg wash around edges.Fold up edges forming a pouch, and seal.
• Refrigerate the empanadas on greased parchment paper for at least 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Brush the empanadas with egg wash.
• Bake until golden brown, about 25 minutes.

PASTELITOS DE QUESO AS MADE BY VIVIAN HERNANDEZ-JACKSON RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325°F (160°C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Sprinkle 1½ cups (300 G) sugar onto a clean surface, about 5 inches larger all around than the sheet of puff pastry.
• Place the puff pastry over the sugar and sprinkle the remaining 1½ cups (300 G) sugar on top.
• Gently press the sugar into the dough, then use a rolling pin to roll out the pastry to a 24 x 14-inch rectangle.
• Using a knife or pizza cutter, cut the pastry into 9 equal squares.
• Add the cream cheese to a piping bag fitted with a ¾-inch round tip.
• Pipe the cream cheese diagonally onto the center of each pastry square.
• Bring one corner of the dough diagonally over the cream cheese to meet the opposite corner, then roll up into a log. Divide the pastelitos between the prepared baking sheets, making sure the seams are on the bottom so the pastelitos do not unroll during baking.
• Bake the pastelitos for 30-35 minutes, until golden brown and puffed. Remove from the oven and transfer to a plate to cool completely before serving.
• Enjoy!

PASTELES DE QUESO RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• In a large bowl, sift together the flour, salt, baking powder, and sugar and whisk to combine.
• Add the corn oil and whisk until well combined.
• In a liquid measuring cup or small bowl, lightly beat together the eggs. Add the milk.
• Gradually add the egg mixture to the dry ingredients. Mix until the dough begins to come together in a ball.
• Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead for 10 minutes, until smooth.
• Place the dough in a floured bowl. Cover with a kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let it rest for 45 minutes, or until dough has nearly doubled in size.
• Roll the dough into about 25 smaller balls, or fewer if you prefer larger pasteles. Transfer to a baking sheet and cover with a kitchen towel so the dough balls don't dry out as you roll them out.
• Working 1 at a time, roll each dough ball out into ⅛-inch (3 mm) thick ovals. Use an inverted bowl to cut out circles about 4-5 inches (10-13 cm) in diameter. Discard the dough scraps.
• Add about a tablespoon of Oaxaca cheese to the center of each circle. Lightly wet the edge of the dough with water, then fold in half and seal using the repulgue technique or an empanada mold cutter.
• Fill a large pot with canola oil and heat to 360°F (182°C).
• Add several pasteles at a time to the hot oil and fry for about 5 minutes, or until crisp and golden brown. Drain on paper towels.
• Dust the hot pasteles with powdered sugar. Serve with api, if desired.
• Enjoy!

PASTELILLOS DE GUAYABA (GUAVA CHEESE PASTRIES)

Steps:

• Set out puff pastry to thaw for 40 minutes at room temperature.
• Once pastry is thawed, line a 12-by-17-inch baking sheet with 2 pieces of parchment paper. (The double layer helps to protect your pan when you're cutting the puff pastry.) Heat oven to 400 degrees.
• Prepare your egg wash by whisking egg and milk together. Keep it handy.
• Lay one layer of puff pastry on top of parchment paper on the baking sheet. Make a 4-by-4 grid of guava stacked with cheese, spaced evenly, leaving about 1 inch of space in between. Top with the second puff pastry sheet.
• Using a pizza cutter, slice the puff pastry into 16 equal pieces, touching the top lightly to determine where to slice. It's OK if you don't do a perfect job; these are especially good when the guava spills out and caramelizes along the edges. (And don't worry too much about getting the cut exact, or pieces being odd sizes. It gives them character.)
• Working quickly, use a fork to crimp all four edges twice on each side, then arrange them evenly on the baking sheet, leaving space between each. Brush the tops and edges lightly with the prepared egg wash and place baking sheet in the center of the oven.
• Bake for 25 minutes or until pastelillos are beautifully golden brown, flaky and puffy.
• Out of the oven, let pastelillos rest for at least 10 minutes before eating. (Guava is molten hot and will burn your mouth, badly.)
• Once they've cooled, sprinkle with confectioners' sugar to taste. They can be eaten warm or at room temperature, and will keep for several days in an airtight container. Heat leftovers in the oven for 5 minutes at 350 degrees to bring back their crispness.