Guava Cake Bars Cuban Style (Print version)

Buttery pastry layered with sweet guava paste creates these classic Cuban bars. Perfect balance of fruit and tender cake.

# Required ingredients:

→ Dough

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
03 - ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
04 - ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - ¾ cup granulated sugar
06 - 3 large eggs, room temperature
07 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
08 - ⅓ cup whole milk

→ Filling

09 - 12 oz guava paste, sliced into thin strips

# How to make it:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, allowing overhang for easy removal.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt until evenly blended.
03 - In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract.
04 - Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture, alternating with milk and beginning and ending with flour. Mix until just combined—avoid overmixing.
05 - Spread half the dough evenly into the prepared pan, creating a smooth base layer.
06 - Arrange guava paste strips in a single, even layer over the bottom dough, covering completely.
07 - Gently spread remaining dough over guava layer using a spatula or damp fingers to cover completely.
08 - Bake for 38 to 42 minutes until top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the pastry (not guava) comes out clean.
09 - Cool completely in the pan. Lift out using parchment overhang and cut into bars.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The buttery dough becomes impossibly tender while still holding its structure, creating the perfect vehicle for that intense guava flavor
  • These bars strike that rare balance between dessert elegant enough for guests and casual enough for afternoon coffee
02 -
  • Room temperature ingredients are non-negotiable here, as cold eggs or butter will prevent proper creaming and lead to dense, tough bars
  • Guava paste varies in thickness, so slice it thinner if your pieces are thick, ensuring even distribution throughout the filling layer
03 -
  • A light sprinkling of turbinado sugar on top before baking creates a gorgeous crackled crust
  • Adding cream cheese to the filling layer creates a tangy contrast that cuts through the sweet guava
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