3-Ingredient Guava & Cream Cheese Bites

These Guava & Cream Cheese Bites bring the sunny flavors of a Puerto Rican pastelillo to your table in a buttery, flaky package. Frozen puff pastry makes preparation quick and foolproof, while the pairing of vitamin C-rich guava paste and cream cheese creates a sweet and savory combination that will have you coming back for more. They’re simple to pull together, and can be assembled a day ahead or baked and frozen to enjoy at a later time. Read on for our best tips and tricks for making these tasty bites at home!

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too! 

• Let the puff pastry thaw in the refrigerator overnight so the butter stays cold, which helps preserve the flaky layers.
• Keep the puff pastry cool while working to ensure crisp, flaky layers when baked. If it gets warm, place it back in the freezer to firm up before continuing.

Nutrition Notes

• Guava paste contains vitamin C, potassium, beta-carotene and lycopene. These antioxidants can help reduce inflammation. Just be mindful that guava paste contains a high amount of added sugar and doesn’t provide the same health benefits as fresh guava.
• Cream cheese is a higher-fat dairy product that provides a minimal amount of protein, vitamin A and calcium. The fat found in cream cheese can help promote satiety and make these snacks more satisfying. If you’re watching your saturated fat, consider using reduced-fat cream cheese. 
• Puff pastry doesn’t have many nutritional benefits, but it makes a great base for a variety of flavors, including the cream cheese and guava paste in this recipe. Plus it adds a crispy texture if you like a snack with some crunch.