CAO Bakery & Café, a South Florida chain of Cuban-American bakeries, is best known for its 30+ pastries and desserts, from chocolate to caramel, fruity or glazed; but it’s crown jewel is the pastelito. Buttery, flakey, sweet or savory, CAO’s pastelitos evoke the same feelings as the cafes themselves – warm, sweet and authentic.

Pastellitos are a mainstay of Cuban pastry cuisine and come in a variety of options from sweet to savory. Much like the Cuban sandwich is synonymous with Miami cuisine, pastellitos are the treat you can enjoy for breakfast, dessert or a mid-day pick-me-up.

Pastelitos de Guayaba y Queso (Guava and Cheese Pastries)

Ingredients

  • One box of puff pastry (2 sheets), thawed
  • 2 oz. guayaba (see recipe below)
  • 2 oz. cream cheese
  • 1 egg beaten
  • almíbar (see recipe below)

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400F.
  2. Remove puff pastry from packaging and use the folded lines to cut each sheet into equal square-shaped slices. Set aside one sheet (half the squares).
  3. Squeeze a dollop of homemade guayaba on half the slices of puff pastry. Then add a small scoop of cream cheese directly on top of the guayaba.
  4. Top each square with the reserved pieces of puff pastry. Do not flatten or press the edges together.
  5. Brush the top of each pastry with egg wash. Make a small cut in the top of each pastry to allow heat to vent.
  6. Place on a baking sheet and bake until golden, about 15 to 20 minutes. While pastelitos are baking, make your almíbar.
  7. Remove from oven and immediately brush the top of each with a generous amount of almíbar.
  8. Allow to cool and enjoy.

Guayaba Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 oz. instant corn starch
  • 1.5 cups sugar
  • 2 cups natural guava pulp
  • 1 cup water
  • Red food coloring

Directions

  1. Combine instant corn starch and sugar into a mixer. Add guava pulp and mix on medium-low (speed 2) for 5 minutes.
  2. Use a rubber spatula to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl.
  3. Add water and mix on medium-low for another 5 minutes. Add one drop of red food coloring and mix another 2 minutes on same speed.
  4. Pour mixture into a piping bag or Ziplock with a nickel-sized corner cut off.

Almíbar Recipe

Ingredients

  • 4 cups of sugar
  • 2 cups water  
  • 3/4 cups of corn syrup 

Directions

  1. Boil sugar and water over medium heat until the sugar dissolves.
  2. Remove from heat and pour into a mixer. Add corn syrup and mix on low speed for 15 mins.