Guava Panetelas
Bites from my island
Guava panetelas or “panetelas de guayaba” are cake bars made with a very dense cake batter that is filled in the middle with guava paste. They are very traditional here in Puerto Rico, everyone loves them! You only need 10 ingredients and that’s including the salt, and probably less than 40 minutes to have them in your mouth. Even if this is a dense cake batter, the crumb is soft and buttery and you won’t be able to eat just one!
If there’s a word I can use to describe these “panetelas de guayaba” I’d have to say addictive. Sure they’re super delicious, but there are many recipes, especially in this blog ; ), that are super delicious as well. But these go beyond that. These are the kind of delicious that you just can’t stop, because one bite makes you think of the next one. If there’s something that’s going to be gone from your kitchen quickly are these. I bet you, just write me down in the comments how much you wanna bet!
I love sharing recipes with guava paste because I love guava so much! I grew up with the classic combination of guava paste and cream cheese in so many things, the list will just go on and on. But I don’t share as many here on the blog thinking it will be an ingredient not accesible to everyone. Still, every time I share something with guava paste on Instagram you guys love it so much, I thought it might be time to give guava paste a bit more of a spotlight here in the blog. So get ready for more guava paste recipes in the future. If you just can’t wait that means that a) you are like me!, and b) you’re going to love this Guava and Cream Cheese Loaf Cake as well!
You can easily make this in one bowl and use either a hand electric mixer or a stand mixer, whatever you have more accesible in your kitchen. As I mentioned earlier, the dough is pretty dense. It will remind you of a sugar cookie dough if you have ever made these from scratch. You’ll need to press the dough into the pan, as if you were working with clay, or play-doh.
Steps for making Guava Panetelas
Start by taking out your butter to let it soften while you prepare your pan and the rest of the ingredients. Cut your guava pieces as well.
You can grease your pan with butter or baking spray because this cake is very easy to turn upside down, or you can cover the pan with parchment paper. In this brownie dulce de leche cheesecake bars post I started by explaining how I make this.
This is a very straightforward batter, so when you're ready to go just cream the butter with the sugar, then mix in the eggs, flavorings and add in the flour in a few additions without overtaxing. That’s it! Remember this will be a thick batter and you’ll need to spread it with your hands.
Take about half of the dough and spread it through the pan. Arrange guava pieces as close as you can but not necessarily touching one another. Carefully spread the remaining dough on top.
Bake between 20 to 25 minutes and when they are out just cut the cake in squares and sprinkle loooots of confectioner’s sugar!
For reference, this is the guava paste I always use in my recipes.
I know I have to make more batches of these squares of tropical deliciousness because they were gone too fast! But let’s not mention specifics about it, ok?! Now bake these and let me how much you love them! Love to hear all your comments and don’t forget to take a pic and share it with me over Instagram so we can celebrate together the goodness that came out of our kitchens!
Check this quick Instagram reel on the left so you can have a quick look on how I made these guava panetelas.
Until the next one!
Guava Panetelas
Ingredients
◯ All-purpose unbleached flour - 2 cups
◯ Baking powder - 1 TBSP
◯ Fine sea salt - ½ Tsp
◯ Butter, slightly softened (see notes) - 8 TBSP
◯ Natural granulated sugar - 1 cup
◯ Eggs - 2
◯ Vanilla extract - ¾ Tsp
◯ Almond extract - ¼ Tsp
◯ Guava paste - 10 to 12 oz, cut in about ⅛” thick
◯ Confectioner’s sugar to sprinkle on top
Details
Yield:
16 squares, a 8 x 8 cake pan
Total time:
40 minutes
Active time:
15 minutes
Baking time:
20 to 25 minutes
Equipment:
electric hand mixer or stand mixer, 8 x 8 cake pan
Steps
Prepare your 8 x 8 cake pan by greasing it with butter, spraying some baking spray or covering the bottom and sides with two cross parchment papers. If your home is too hot, place the pan in the fridge while you make the cake batter.
Preheat oven to 350°.
Over a large bowl sift the 2 cups of flour with the tablespoon of baking powder and the ½ teaspoon of salt.
Dump the butter in a large bowl or in the bowl of your stand mixer. Beat in slow speed just to make it creamy and spreadable, about 30 seconds in speed #2 in your electric handheld mixer or your stand mixer. Slowly add the sugar and increase the speed one level. Beat for 1 to 2 minutes, until mixture is pasty. Decrease speed one level and with the mixer running add the eggs, one at a time. Add the ¾ teaspoon of vanilla and the ¼ teaspoons of almond extract.
Decrease speed to the lowest and start adding the flour mixture. Do no over-mix. This is a thick batter and should have the texture of a smooth cookie dough.
Using a large spoon or your hands, take about half of the batter and spread it in your prepared cake pan. Stretch it to every corner of the pan and press it down to make it even. Think of this batter as play dough or clay, so you can take out chunks of some areas and press it where it’s needed. Arrange the guava strips on top, not touching one another but leaving the minimum space in between them. You will need to cut some strips shorter to make them fit in some areas. Distribute the remaining batter over the guava paste and again spread it and stretch it until all the guava is well covered.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted through the center of the cake. After 5 minutes carefully remove it from the pan by flipping it over another plate of pulling up the parchment paper hanging on the sides. Let it cool down 10 minutes before dusting plenty of confectioner’s sugar on top and cutting.
Best eaten the same day or the day after. Store in an airtight container or bag. After the second day you may reheat any piece in the microwave for 20 seconds in the lowest heat setting to make them softer.
