Indulge in Tropical Bliss: Guava and Cream Cheese Hand Pies – A Taste of the Caribbean

My journey into the vibrant world of Caribbean cuisine began with an unforgettable experience at BlogHer Food in Miami. It was there, amidst the buzz of culinary enthusiasts, that I had the privilege of attending a captivating workshop. Led by two incredibly talented chefs, Meseidy Rivera of The Noshery and Carla Vianna of The Cuban Brit, the session explored the rich traditions of Puerto Rican and Cuban cooking, alongside innovative spins on these beloved cuisines. Beyond the wealth of knowledge shared, what truly stayed with me – and filled my belly with delight – were the incredible samples. I left feeling inspired, eager to bring these exotic flavors and culinary techniques into my own kitchen.

Discovering the Sweet & Tangy Secret: The Allure of Guava Paste

Among the many revelations of that workshop, one ingredient stole my heart and ignited my imagination: guava paste. Oh, if you haven’t yet experienced the sheer delight of guava paste, you are truly missing out! This remarkable ingredient is a culinary gem, offering a perfect balance of tangy sweetness that can elevate a myriad of dishes. Its unique, fresh, and fruity flavor profile makes it incredibly versatile, lending itself beautifully to everything from savory main courses and enticing appetizers to decadent desserts.

In our household, guava paste has quickly become a pantry staple. We’ve discovered its simple elegance when sliced and served alongside a cheese tray – a sophisticated and flavorful alternative when fresh fruit isn’t readily available. It adds a gourmet touch to charcuterie boards, complementing various cheeses with its distinctive tropical essence. I now find myself ensuring my pantry is never without this delightful condiment, a testament to its indispensable role in our culinary adventures.

The workshop itself showcased the classic Cuban dessert that forms the inspiration for today’s recipe: a heavenly combination of creamy cheese and sweet guava paste, lovingly encased in dough and then fried to golden perfection. Today, I’m thrilled to share my take on this quick, simple, and utterly impressive sweet treat with you. These Guava and Cream Cheese Hand Pies are not only a joy to make but also incredibly adaptable. I love to fry them until they’re perfectly crisp, allow them to cool slightly, and then wrap them in foil for easy transport. They’re an absolute hit in our picnic basket and are destined to become a staple for packed lunches during field trips this coming fall. Imagine a perfect little package of creamy, sweet, fruity, and tangy goodness, all wrapped up in a flaky, golden hand pie!

Crafting Your Guava and Cream Cheese Hand Pies: Essential Tips for Success

Creating these irresistible hand pies is a rewarding experience, and with a few key insights, you’ll be baking or frying up batches of tropical delight in no time. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or new to the kitchen, these tips will help you achieve perfect results.

Choose Your Dough: Convenience or Homemade Perfection

For the sake of speed and convenience, I often reach for Goya Discos – readily available empanada wrappers that make quick work of these hand pies. Their consistent quality and ease of use are undeniable, especially when time is of the essence. Using pre-made dough significantly cuts down on prep time, allowing you to enjoy these treats faster. However, for those who relish the art of homemade pastry, my talented friend Meseidy offers a truly fantastic recipe for a homemade version of the dough. Preparing your own pastry can add an extra layer of freshness and a personalized touch to your hand pies, often resulting in a richer, more complex flavor and texture. I wholeheartedly recommend trying her recipe if you have the time and inclination for a more artisanal approach. Both options yield delicious results, so choose what best suits your kitchen style and schedule!

Sourcing Quality Guava Paste: A Flavor Foundation

Finding guava paste is usually quite straightforward. Most well-stocked grocery stores will carry it, typically located in the Goya or Hispanic foods section. Look for brands that prioritize authentic flavor and minimal additives. For a wider selection and specific preferences, I often order my Guava Paste (affiliate link) from Amazon.com. My personal preference leans towards guava paste that is free from artificial colors and high fructose corn syrup, ensuring the most natural and vibrant guava flavor shines through in these delicate pastries. The quality of your guava paste directly impacts the final taste and overall authenticity of these tropical hand pies, so choosing a good one is crucial for an exceptional dessert experience.

Frying vs. Baking: Achieving Your Ideal Texture

When it comes to the cooking method, I confess a strong preference for deep-frying these little hand pies. The texture achieved through frying – a beautifully crisp, golden exterior encasing a warm, gooey center of melted cream cheese and luscious guava paste – is simply unparalleled for me. The delightful crunch gives way to a soft, rich interior, creating a truly indulgent experience. I understand, however, that deep-frying can be intimidating for many home cooks, often associated with messy clean-ups, lingering odors, and safety concerns regarding hot oil.

Let me reassure you: deep-frying, when approached with attention and proper technique, is far easier than it seems. The key is maintaining the correct oil temperature (a thermometer is your best friend here) and not overcrowding your fryer or pot, which can lower the oil temperature and result in greasy pies. For those who prefer a simpler or lighter approach, baking offers a fantastic alternative. Baked hand pies will be puffier and golden brown with a slightly softer, chewier bite, equally delicious in their own right. The recipe instructions accommodate both methods, ensuring you can enjoy these delightful treats regardless of your frying comfort level. One of these days, I’m determined to convince everyone that with a little care, deep-frying can be as “easy-peasy” as baking!

The Recipe: Guava and Cream Cheese Hand Pies

Ready to bring the sweet and tangy flavors of the Caribbean into your home? Here’s the detailed recipe for these delightful Guava and Cream Cheese Hand Pies, perfect for any occasion – from casual family snacks to impressive party desserts.

Guava and Cream Cheese Hand Pies

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Rebecca Lindamood

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Ingredients

• 10 Goya discos or homemade empanada pastry discs. empanada wrappers
• 1 brick of cream cheese 8 ounce, cut crosswise into 10 slices
• 10 slices of guava paste approximately 2 1/2-inches long by 1-inch across by 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick
• 1 beaten egg
• Oil for frying or non-stick cooking spray if baking

Instructions

To Prepare Hand Pies:

• Lay out the Goya discos or homemade empanada pastry discs on a clean surface. Using a pastry brush, gently brush the edges of each disc with the beaten egg. This will act as a sealant, helping the dough adhere together when folded.
• Place one slice of cream cheese and one slice of guava paste slightly to one side of the center of each disc. Ensure there’s enough space around the edges for sealing without the filling spilling out. Carefully lift the empty side of the dough and fold it over the filling, aligning the edges. Use your fingers or the tines of a fork to firmly crimp the edges together, creating a secure seal and a classic hand pie shape. This ensures the delicious filling stays contained during cooking. Repeat this process for all ten pastry discs.

To Fry:

• In a deep fryer or a heavy-bottomed pot (like a Dutch oven), preheat your oil to 350°F (175°C). It’s crucial to use a kitchen thermometer to ensure the oil reaches and maintains the correct temperature for optimal frying. Carefully lower two or three of the prepared hand pies into the hot oil, being careful not to overcrowd the fryer. Overcrowding can drop the oil temperature and lead to greasy pies. Fry until they are beautifully golden brown and appear deliciously puffy, which typically takes about 4 minutes, flipping once if necessary to ensure even browning on both sides. Using tongs, a slotted spoon, or a spider, transfer the fried pies from the oil to a plate generously lined with paper towels to drain excess oil. Allow them to cool for at least 5 minutes before indulging. These delightful pastries are equally delicious served warm or at room temperature!

To Bake:

• Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Arrange the prepared hand pies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a Silpat mat, ensuring they are not touching. Brush both sides of the pies with a little more beaten egg – this helps achieve that beautiful golden sheen and a slightly crispier crust, mimicking some of the appeal of frying. Bake until the pies are visibly puffy and have turned a lovely golden brown, usually around 20 minutes. Keep a close eye on them towards the end of the baking time to prevent over-browning, as oven temperatures can vary. Once baked, let them cool for at least 5 minutes before serving. Like their fried counterparts, these baked hand pies are wonderful warm or at room temperature, making them perfect for picnics or packed lunches.

Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.

Did You Make This Tropical Treat?

We’d love to see your creations! Make sure to tag @foodiewithfam on Instagram and #hashtag it #foodiewithfamily so I can check it out and share the deliciousness with our community!

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Elevate Your Kitchen: My Experience with JCPenney Home Essentials

Part of the joy of exploring new recipes, especially those involving techniques like deep-frying, comes from having the right tools. For preparing these delightful hand pies, I had the pleasure of using my brand-new T-Fal Cool-Touch Deep Fryer from JCPenney. For years, I had managed with frying pans on my stovetop, often resulting in inevitable oily messes and lingering odors throughout my home. Transitioning to a dedicated deep fryer has been a game-changer, offering a tidier, safer, and far more enjoyable deep-frying experience for both everyday meals and special treats.

This particular T-Fal model boasts several advantages that have significantly improved my cooking process. Its “cool-touch” exterior ensures safer handling, especially important in a busy kitchen with curious hands. Beyond that, it significantly reduces the mess, keeping oil splatters contained and making cleanup a breeze. Crucially, it also minimizes the tell-tale “fried food” smell that can permeate a home, allowing for a more pleasant cooking environment. Plus, it provides a convenient and dedicated storage solution for my frying oil, making prep and cleanup much simpler and more organized. A reliable deep fryer is truly an asset for any home cook looking to expand their culinary repertoire with ease and confidence.

My positive experience with this deep fryer led me to explore JCPenney’s broader home goods section, and I was genuinely impressed by its fantastic and robust selection. They offer an array of items designed to enhance every aspect of your living space, from cutting-edge kitchen gadgets and essential cookware to stylish home decor and comfortable bedding. It’s a comprehensive destination for outfitting your home with quality products that blend functionality and aesthetic appeal.

In fact, JCPenney has been actively engaging with customers through exciting events, such as their “Designer Days.” This unique series hosted celebrity designers in-store, offering live design consultations where customers could submit their design questions via Facebook and potentially have them answered live by an industry expert. It’s a testament to JCPenney’s commitment to not just selling products, but also inspiring and assisting customers in creating their dream homes. Through these initiatives, they provide invaluable advice on everything from color palettes to furniture arrangement, helping you transform your living spaces. You can even receive a 20% off a home product offer, making it even more appealing to refresh your space. The “Designer Day” series included renowned experts like David Bromstad, whose insights are truly inspiring. If you missed out on the live sessions, you can still gain valuable insights by checking out all the great home advice from previous participating designers on the JCPenney Designer Days Playlist on YouTube. These resources provide endless inspiration for upgrading your kitchen and home with expert guidance.

Sweet Rewards Await: Enter to Win a JCPenney Gift Card!

The excitement doesn’t stop with delicious recipes and home inspiration! To further assist you in fulfilling your own home design aspirations or gadget needs, JCPenney is generously offering a $100 JCPenney Gift Card to one lucky Foodie with Family reader. Imagine all the wonderful kitchen tools, home decor, or appliances you could choose to make your home even more comfortable and functional! This is your chance to upgrade that old appliance or finally get that decorative piece you’ve been eyeing.

Entering for a chance to win is simple. All you have to do is answer the following question in the comments section below: What is the one item you need or want the most for your kitchen or home? Share your dream kitchen upgrade or essential home item, and you could be our fortunate winner! We’re eager to read your responses and see what home improvements you’re dreaming of.