Guava Cheese Tropical Confection (Print version)

A fragrant, jewel-toned sweet made from ripe guava, fresh lime, and butter, yielding delicate tangy squares.

# What You Need:

→ Fruit Base

01 - 4 cups ripe guava (pink or white), peeled, deseeded, and chopped
02 - 1/2 cup water

→ Sugar & Flavor

03 - 2 1/4 cups granulated sugar
04 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

→ Enrichment

05 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing

→ Coating

06 - 1/4 cup superfine sugar for dusting

# How to Make:

01 - Grease an 8x8-inch square baking pan with butter and line with parchment paper, leaving overhang for easy removal
02 - Place guava and water in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Simmer over medium heat until fruit is soft, approximately 15 minutes
03 - Puree the cooked guava using a blender or food processor until smooth. Pass through a fine mesh sieve to remove any remaining seeds or fibers
04 - Measure out 2 cups of guava puree and return to the heavy-bottomed saucepan
05 - Add granulated sugar and fresh lime juice to the puree. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon or heatproof spatula
06 - Continue cooking until mixture thickens noticeably and begins to pull away from the sides, approximately 30 to 40 minutes. Add butter and stir until glossy and very thick, forming a mass that holds its shape
07 - Immediately transfer the hot mixture to the prepared baking pan, smoothing the top with a spatula
08 - Allow to cool at room temperature for 1 hour until completely set
09 - Lift out using parchment overhang. Cut into 1-inch squares or diamonds using a greased knife
10 - If desired, roll pieces in superfine sugar to coat evenly

# Expert tips:

01 -
  • It captures the soul of guava in its most elegant form, tasting like late afternoon conversations and homemade luxury.
  • The natural pectin in guava means you get that perfect jewel-like set without any complicated science, just fruit and patience.
  • Once you master this, you'll find yourself making it constantly because people can't stop asking for more.
02 -
  • The mixture will seem impossibly thick at the end, like it might not pour—this is the moment to trust the process and transfer it immediately before it cools too much and becomes unmanageable.
  • If your guavas were especially watery, your puree might need an extra 5 to 10 minutes of cooking to reach the right consistency, so don't panic if the timeline varies slightly.
03 -
  • If your first batch is slightly softer than you'd like, it means you need just a few extra minutes of stirring next time—don't give up after one attempt.
  • Soaking your wooden spoon in water before you start prevents the mixture from sticking to it and making stirring easier throughout the long cooking process.
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