A few days ago we celebrated my friend Kim’s 30th birthday. She came over for dinner and drinks after work. Kim is a great friend of ours and I really wanted to cook a nice meal for her to show her how much we appreciate her friendship. I made a delicious warm brussels sprout salad with broiled flounder and scalloped potatoes. For dessert, we had these decadent and smooth mini guava cheesecakes. I love sharing the flavors of my culture with my non-Caribbean friends, especially those who are excited to try something new. It gives them a chance to get to know me in a different way. We couldn’t stop licking out fingers with this one. The cheesecake was so good. I wanted to share this recipe because I thought it would also be perfect for Valentine’s Day.
The night turned out great, especially ending with this guava cheesecake and a bottle of rosé.
I have a rule about cheesecake. It has to have a certain texture for me to enjoy it. It has to be smooth with no eggy taste and not overly sweet. I have a base recipe that I’ve been using since the beginning of time which I customize with different additions. This is the same base recipe I use in my Pineapple + Coconut Cheesecake. I used guava paste for the flavor and melted it slightly in the microwave. Then I added some of the cheesecake batter to the guava paste and blended until it was completely smooth. I divided the batter into three 4-inch springform pans. I had a little batter left over and used it to make a few cheesecake cups.
You can certainly pour the entire batter into a prepared store bought crust- just be sure to buy the crust that says “2 extra servings” otherwise you’ll have left over batter. If you can’t find that particular crust, get a regular size and use the leftover batter to make cheesecake cups. These are perfect for Valentine’s day or anytime. It’s not overly sweet and the guava gives it such a nice flavor. Give it a go and let me know how you liked it.
Guava Cheesecake
This rich and smooth cheesecake batter flavored with guava paste will make your tastebuds want to come back for more. Add as much or as little guava as you like.
Ingredients
Crust- if making your own
- 1 ½ cups crushed graham cracker
- 6 tablespoon melted butter
- 4 tablespoon white granulated sugar
- Dash of cinnamon
Batter
- Two 8oz packages cream cheese, room temperature
- ½ cup plus 3 tablespoon white granulated sugar
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon lemon or orange zest
- 2 eggs, room temperature
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 8 tablespoon guava paste, slightly melted
- 1 drop red food coloring
Instructions
- Bring eggs and cream cheese to room temperature.
- Mix graham cracker, sugar, and cinnamon together. Add melted butter, stir to combine.
- Press graham cracker mixture into mini springform pans or one 8in springform pan. Use a round glass to press graham cracker into and around the side of the pan.
- Bake crust for 8-10 minutes at 375 degrees until edges are golden brown, crust will begin to smell fragrant. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.
- Cream sugar and cream cheese until smooth and no lumps remain. Add sour cream, vanilla, and lemon zest, blend to incorporate. Add eggs, blend on low speed.
- Slightly melt 8 tablespoon of guava paste in microwave. In a separate bowl remove about ¼ cup of batter and blend together with guava paste. Blend until completely smooth. Add guava mixture to remaining cheesecake batter and blend then mix in 1 tablespoon flour.
- Set oven temperature to 325 degrees.
- Line springform pan with foil. Pour batter into crust. Place springform pan in a deep baking pan and place on baking rack in oven. Fill larger pan halfway with water.
- Bake for 45 minutes at 325 degrees
- Center of cheesecake should jiggle slightly when shaken. Turn heat off and leave cheesecake to rest for about 10 minutes in oven. Remove from oven and leave cheesecake to rest for an additional 30-40 minutes to cool slowly. Place in refrigerator for at least 3-4 hours or overnight.
Notes
I purchased the pans used in this recipe from Target for about $10.
A 9-inch spring-form pan may be used, but will yield a thinner cheesecake. I prefer using an 8in spring-form pan for good height.
Baking cheesecake in a pan of water is what is known as a water-bath. The cheesecake is steamed this way and the steam keeps it from drying out.
If using store-bought crust, be sure to buy the one that says, "2 extra servings" otherwise, you will have left over batter. You do not need to place store bought crust in a water-bath, but you can add a pan of water at the very bottom of the oven to create steam.
Cheesecakes have a tendency to shrink and sink in the middle when cooling, so you will want to use a knife to run along the outside of the crust immediately after the cheesecake is done. Otherwise as it cools, the outer part of the cheesecake will stick to the pan leaving a circular crack in the center. This only applies if you are using a spring-form pan.
If making cheesecake cups, baking time should be about 25-30 minutes.
One drop of red food coloring will help to bring out the color of the cheesecake batter.
Shelly Ismail says
Oh my! This looks and sounds delicious. I love guava and cheesecake, so I know this would be a winner!
Sebastian Wahl says
wonderful
Fatima says
I tried this! It was my first time baking a cheesecake and I was a little scared but I love Guava and my friend gave me a bag of fresh guavas from her very own tree! So I made a paste and then found your recipe for this cheesecake. OMG! Delicious! Not only was it easy to follow, but it was AMAZING TO EAT! I almost ate the batter before I baked it! Now I am begging my friend to give me more Guavas so I can bake more cheesecake! Thank you for sharing!
Rafa says
Excellent recipe…5 stars for sure.
I did a 50/50 mixture butter and coconut oil for the crust and also chopped walnuts…I had a lot going on there but turned out delicious and the walbut pieces added a great crunch to the crust. I will actually add shredded coconut next time for added tropical flair.
I reduced the added sugar slightly since the guava I was using was fresh candied vs. store bought guava paste. Instead of sour cream I used Greek yogurt.
My family absolutely ? it.
Alica says
Hi there,
Love your modifications. Greek yogurt is a great substitute! Glad you enjoyed the cheesecake. I’ve got to try the crust with walnuts!
Florida Smittys says
Hi there! The recipe got my attention right away because it has guava in it. I am baking the cheesecake as I write this. What is the rationale for the 1 tbsp flour? Thank you ?
Alica says
Hi! Adding a little flour helps the cheesecake not crack if it’s overbaked for any reason. Some bakers add cornstarch instead of flour. A Bain Marie helps overall to prevent cracking. Hope you enjoy it!
Ann says
I made this last weekend and my family is begging for another one! I made a full size cheesecake in a 9 inch pan and it was wonderful – perfect amount of creaminess and tropical guava flavors.
Alica says
Hi Ann, that’s awesome, this is a family favorite of ours as well!
Sarah says
Hi, I’m really excited about trying this cheesecake. I’ve never baked one before – I believe I have a 9 inch spring-form pan. How would the baking time need to be adjusted? If I was using a 10 inch pan how long should I bake for?
Alica says
Hi, if you use a 9 in pan, 45 min should be good. If you use 10in, check it around 40 min. Good luck and hope you enjoy it!