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!
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!
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!
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).
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.
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!
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!
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!
Or try these crispy fried guava empanadas!
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.