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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Guava Cream Cheese Pastry Braid

breakfast· dessert· Easter· pastries
August 29, 2019

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Guava Cream Cheese Pastry Braid – Puff pastry dough is filled with whipped cream cheese and guava jelly and then braided to give this traditional Latin pastry an upgrade. 

Guava Cream Cheese Pastry Braid on brown paper

Guava was always present in our home growing up. I loved spreading it on toast with a little butter, just as my dad did in the mornings. But it wasn’t until I had guava with cream cheese that I really appreciated this tropical fruit.

I think I first had this duo together when I ordered a guava cream cheese pastry from a Latin bakery in Florida. Man, what a flavor combination! The cream cheese perfectly balances out the tangy guava jelly and makes the filling ultra creamy. Wrap it all up in a flaky puff pastry and you’ve got a killer treat.

But this isn’t just any puff pastry – it’s folded into a braid to make it look extra gorgeous. Check out my Guava Cream Cheese Braid below!

Slices of Guava Cream Cheese Pastry Braid Guava Cream Cheese Pastry Braid cut into slices on brown paper Guava Cream Cheese Pastry Braid next to a spoon of jelly

How to make this recipe

I know this braid looks fancy and complicated, but it’s actually super simple. If you have the right directions and guidance, you can easily achieve this for yourself. And that’s where this recipe comes in! But before we get to the process, let’s talk about the ingredients.

Ingredients

There are only a few ingredients for this recipe: puff pastry, guava jelly, cream cheese, egg, and coarse sugar. The puff pastry can be found in the frozen dessert section of the grocery store. The night before you plan to use it, simply place it in the refrigerator to thaw overnight.

For the filling, there are just two ingredients: guava jelly and whipped cream cheese. Guava jelly is sold pretty regularly here in Georgia. However, if that’s not the case where you live, you can substitute guava paste or any other fruit preserves you have available. I used whipped cream cheese in this recipe to help it spread easily over the pastry dough. But you can use regular cream cheese – just make sure it’s room temperature so it’s easier to spread.

For the topping, egg wash is brushed over the top to make the pastry beautifully golden brown as it bakes. Then, coarse sugar is sprinkled over the top to give the pastry a yummy crunch on top. I used Turbinado sugar, which is just raw cane sugar.

The process

When I first saw a pastry braid, I was so impressed by how intricate the dough was weaved. It looked so professional and thus, felt almost unattainable without tons of practice. I am here to tell you that is most certainly not the case. It’s actually quite simple of a process.

First, you roll out one sheet of dough and make little cuts along the sides to make the pieces that will be braided.

Cutting the pastry dough to make the braiding

Then, you add the filing down the center.

Guava Cream Cheese filling on the pastry dough

Finally, you just overlap the side pieces to make a braid and voila! The braid is formed!

Braiding the dough together over the filling

Repeat the process with the other sheet of dough and transfer the braids to a prepared baking sheet. Brush with egg wash, sprinkle with sugar, and then bake until perfectly golden brown.

Guava Cream Cheese Pastry Braid dough ready to bake

Tips & Tricks

Here are a few more tips to help you get this recipe exactly right:

  1. The key to a flaky pastry is make sure it’s super cold before baking. This causes steam to form when the butter in the pastry hits the hot oven and flake the pastry. If the butter is too warm, then it won’t steam and the pastry won’t flake. So make sure to chill the pastry before baking!
  2. Make sure to bake the pastry until it’s deep golden brown on the outside. This will ensure a flaky, crispy pastry that is cooked completely. The last thing you want is a soggy pastry.
Print Recipe

Guava Cream Cheese Pastry Braid

Puff pastry dough is filled with whipped cream cheese and guava jelly and then braided to give this traditional Latin pastry an upgrade. 
Prep Time15 mins
Cook Time20 mins
Idle Time10 mins
Servings: 2 braids

Ingredients

  • 2 sheets frozen puff pastry thawed
  • ⅔ cup whipped cream cheese divided
  • ½ cup guava jelly divided
  • 1 large egg
  • 3 tablespoons course sugar for topping

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Prepare baking sheet by lining with parchment paper.
  • Lightly flour a rolling pin and your working surface. Unfold one sheet of puff pastry. Using a dull knife, lightly make indentations into the dough to separate it into three equal sections. The middle section will hold the filling and the outer two sections will be braided. Using a sharp knife, cut the top and bottom corners off at a diagonal. The, cut slits down the left side at the same angle as the corner cuts, about 1 inch thick, stopping right when you reach the center. Cut the same number of slits down the right side.  
  • Spread ⅓ cup of cream cheese down the center panel with the back of a spoon. Top with ¼ cup of guava jelly and spread it over the cream cheese. Starting at the top of the pastry, fold over the slits of dough, alternating between the left and right sides to create a braid. 
  • Once you've made one braid, repeat steps 2 and 3 with the second sheet of puff pastry.
  • Whisk egg and teaspoon of water together to make an egg wash. Brush the top of the braids with the egg wash. Cover braids in coarse sugar. Using a spatula, carefully lift braids and place braids onto baking sheet, at least 4 inches apart. Bake the braids in preheated oven for about 18-20 minutes until golden brown.
  • Remove braids from the oven and cool for 10 minutes before serving. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. 

Pin for later:

Guava Cream Cheese Pastry Braid photo collage

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16 Comments

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Comments

  1. Jessica Formicola says

    September 3, 2019 at 8:33 pm

    I love guava, and this pastry looks amazing! I can’t wait to try it!

    Reply
  2. Kushigalu says

    September 3, 2019 at 6:49 pm

    Gorgeous treat with the lovely combination. I can smell it 🙂 WOW!

    Reply
  3. Sara Welch says

    September 3, 2019 at 5:17 pm

    Such a gorgeous recipe and hands down delicious! Looking forward to making this again over the holidays! Delish!

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      September 5, 2019 at 8:57 am

      Thanks Sara! Such a huge fan of your blog. I really appreciate you stopping by 🙂

      Reply
  4. Gloria Duggan says

    September 3, 2019 at 4:40 pm

    This is my kind of recipe. Perfect for brunch, dessert or with my afternoon latte. I would even eat this for breakfast. Love the rustic presentation to this delicious recipe.

    Reply
  5. Christa says

    August 30, 2019 at 12:21 pm

    Oh wow, this looks so amazing! I don’t think I’ve baked with guava before. Can’t wait to give it a try!

    Reply
  6. Veena Azmanov says

    August 30, 2019 at 2:07 am

    This is such a unique combination of the flavor of Guava. Sounds interesting and unique. Awesome look too.

    Reply
  7. Tonje says

    August 30, 2019 at 1:48 am

    This is so beautiful! I have never had guava, but it looks really good. I’ll see if I can get my hands on it!

    Reply
  8. Sapana says

    August 30, 2019 at 1:14 am

    This dessert looks so decadent and beautiful but I love how simple your recipe is!! I can’t wait to make it this weekend.

    Reply
  9. Cindy @ A Uniquely Edible Magic says

    August 30, 2019 at 12:40 am

    Thanks for the very detailed explanation of how to make a pastry braid! I’ve always stayed away from making these because they look so complicated. Will try these out!

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      September 5, 2019 at 8:59 am

      Me too! I was shocked at how simple it was once I attempted it.

      Reply
  10. Irina says

    August 29, 2019 at 11:43 pm

    This Guava Cream Cheese Pastry Braid sounds delicious! I just LOVE it! I cannot wait to try!!! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  11. Roxanne says

    August 29, 2019 at 9:40 pm

    Oh my gosh these are drool worthy! You make it look so easy to make, I definitely want to give it a try.

    Reply
  12. Lori Geurin says

    August 29, 2019 at 9:11 pm

    What a beautiful pastry! Looks so delicious! Reading your post is so interesting to me because I never had the opportunity to try a guava until I was an adult. Thank you!

    Reply
  13. Marlynn | Urban Bliss Life says

    August 29, 2019 at 1:36 pm

    This is such a beautiful pastry dish! I’d love to make this for brunch someday.

    Reply
  14. Marta says

    August 29, 2019 at 12:01 pm

    Pastelillos de guayaba is a breakfast staple in Puerto Rico, so I’m already digging this recipe. Great images as always, too, Sharon!

    Reply

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Hi, my name is Sharon. I’m an accountant by day, risk-taking baker and food enthusiast by night. Come join me as I share my favorite recipes and test out new ones along the way!

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