Guava and Cream Cheese Empanadas
Tropical guava paste and tangy cream cheese are a classic pairing for sweet empanadas throughout Latin America. You can find guava paste in some grocery stores, most Hispanic markets, or online—quince paste also makes for a fine (Spanish-inspired) substitute. These same markets also carry premade empanada wrappers in the frozen food section if you choose not to make your own dough.
Ingredients
- DOUGH:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup 2 sticks cold butter, cubed
- 2 large eggs
- 3 to 4 tablespoons ice water
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- FILLING:
- 1½ cups cream cheese 12 ounces, room temperature
- 1½ tablespoons lemon zest
- ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 10 ounces guava paste
- TO ASSEMBLE:
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon milk cream, or water
- Coarse sugar for sprinkling
- Powdered sugar for sprinkling (optional)
Instructions
- ►DOUGH: Whisk together flour, sugar, and salt in a large chilled bowl. Add cubed butter and toss to coat. Use your fingers to cut butter into flour until mixture resembles coarse meal. If you find butter warming up at any point, refrigerate bowl for a few minutes.
- ►Whisk together eggs, water, and vinegar in a small bowl. Drizzle over flour-butter mixture. Using a rubber spatula, stir egg mixture into flour and mix until incorporated. You want dough to be hydrated, but not sticky—if it’s dry, add another tablespoon or two of water. Knead dough a few times, then divide into 2 even pieces. Form each piece into a disk, then wrap in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, or preferably overnight.
- ►FILLING: Combine cream cheese, lemon zest, vanilla extract, and salt in a food processor and process until smooth. Cut guava paste into ¼-inch-thick slices (about 1 inch long and ¼ inch wide).
- ►TO ASSEMBLE: Roll out 1 dough disk on a lightly floured surface into a ¼-inch-thick round (12 to 13 inches across). Let dough relax for 5 minutes, then, using a cookie cutter or a cup, cut out 4-inch rounds. You should get 12 rounds; reroll dough scraps if needed. ►Transfer rounds to a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet. Repeat with second disk.
- ►Place 4 pieces of guava paste on half of each round and top with 1 tablespoon cream cheese mixture. Brush dough edges with water, fold to create a half-moon, and seal by pressing dough together with your fingers. You can either crimp edges with a fork or try for traditional braided edge called repulgue: Starting at one corner, fold a triangle of dough down over itself. Press down to seal, extending that part a bit as you press on it. Fold down a second triangle right next to first. Press down to seal and repeat, working your way around edge. Tuck last triangle underneath itself, if necessary.
- ►Transfer pies to refrigerator and repeat process with second disk. Chill pies for at least 30 minutes or freeze for 20 minutes.
- ►Heat oven to 375°F. Lightly beat egg with milk in a small bowl. Brush empanadas with egg wash and sprinkle with coarse sugar. Bake until golden brown, 18 to 20 minutes. Cool for a few minutes, then dust with powdered sugar, if desired, and serve.
Photography by Nina Gallant, Styling by Chantal Lambeth
Polina Chesnakova
Polina Chesnkova is a Seattle-based food writer, cooking class instructor, and the author of Hot Cheese: Over 50 Gooey, Oozy, Melty Recipes.
