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Panetela (Guava Cake)

Cream cheese coffee cake meets tropical guava pastry in this Puerto Rican guava cake known as Panetela de Guayaba! Buttery crumb cake surrounds the guava and cream cheese filling. This tasty panetela makes an excellent snack cake, dessert or even breakfast! 

Cream cheese coffee cake meets the Caribbean with this guava cake recipe! | Cubana Panetela de Guayaba receta

Panetela de Guayaba

Hello everyone. Today I have a wonderful and easy cake recipe for you.

In Puerto Rico it’s called panetela de guayaba y queso (Guava cake with cream cheese). In Cuba they call it masa real. It’s also called bizcocho de guayaba.

This simple snack cake may have different names, but everyone calls it delicious!

Panetela de Guayaba (Guava Cake with Cream Cheese)

It’s also not necessary to have the cheese at all, but guava and cream cheese are one of my favorite combinations!

For me they go together like peanut butter and jelly. Try my mini guava cheesecakes and you’ll know what I mean!

Panetela de Guayaba - Puerto Rican Guava Cake or Cuban Masa Real

The sweet, concentrated guava is balanced perfectly with tangy cream cheese.

If you’ve never worked with guava paste before, you can find it in the Hispanic section of grocery stores or on Amazon.

The best way I can describe it is like a solid piece of guava jelly that’s easy for slicing or melting.

It adds so much flavor without any fuss, like my 2-ingredient guava pastelitos (puff pastries).

Panetela de Guayaba - Puerto Rican Guava Cake or Cuban Masa Real

How to make panetela

Now, this panetela de guayaba is what I call an “everything cake.”

It’s great for dessert of course, but also perfect with coffee in the morning for breakfast, or a tasty afternoon snack.

Panetela cake recipe in English. Cuban Puerto Rican guava cake

The texture of this cake is quite dense. It’s somewhere between cake and cookie bars.

You’ll see when you make the batter that it’s pretty stiff. This is normal and you’ll have to spread the batter out in the pan.

Divide the dough and spread half in a greased 8×8 pan. It may not seem like enough dough, but trust me it will be plenty!

Panetela cake recipe in English

Next, top with a layer of guava paste and slices of cream cheese (if using).

The remaining half of the cake better is spread over top and then it’s baked.

Dust with powdered sugar before serving for a pretty appearance and enjoy!

PIN FOR LATER!

Cream cheese coffee cake meets the Caribbean with this guava cake recipe! | Cubana Panetela de Guayaba receta

Ingredients you will need: 

  • 10 oz guava paste
  • 4 oz (half a package) cream cheese
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/8 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
  • Powdered sugar, for dusting


Want more guava recipes?

These guava pastelitos are suuuper easy to whip up!

Guava pastelitos (guava pastry) made with puff pastry and guava paste. These Puerto Rican sweet guava puffs look so fancy but are so easy!

Or try these crispy fried guava empanadas!

Fried guava empanadas with cream cheese

Kaththee1

Wednesday 29th of June 2022

I am getting ready to make this but wanted to know how to store it. Do I put it in the refrigerator or leave it on the counter? If I put it in the refrigerator do I need to heat it before serving? thank you, :))

Rebekah

Thursday 30th of June 2022

Refrigerator because of the cheese. You can eat it cold, room temp or re-warmed.

Kristi

Sunday 26th of December 2021

Fantastic recipe. Thank you for sharing.

Carol

Monday 23rd of November 2020

Cuanto tiempo puedo guardarlo en la nevera?

Rebekah

Monday 23rd of November 2020

Uno o dos dias. Se secará

Silvia Ferrer

Tuesday 18th of February 2020

Hi: i got my Masa real recipe from mu cuban mom. The recipe is exactly like yours except we add one tablespoon Crisco shortening. It makes a huge difference (softer dough)

Rebekah

Wednesday 19th of February 2020

Thanks for the tip!

Terry

Friday 17th of May 2019

We are making these for a school project next Wednesday. Need to know oven temp and cooking time please

Rebekah

Friday 17th of May 2019

350F for 40-50 minutes.