Cream Cheese Pastries (Quesitos), a very popular pastry in Puerto Rico, are prepared with a puff pastry dough that is filled with a cream cheese mixture. Once baked, the Quesitos are then brushed on top with a syrup. These delicious pastries have a golden brown crust that is flaky with a tasty cream cheese filling. They are usually served in the morning for breakfast or in the afternoon as a snack with a cup of Puerto Rican coffee with milk (Café con Leche).
There are many variations of Quesitos in terms of shape, size and filling. Some individuals prefer to shape the dough into logs, covering the cream cheese completely with the puff pastry dough. While others, prefer a cream cheese guava paste filling. If you go to many bakeries in Puerto Rico, you will find small, medium and large size Quesitos.
Preparing the Egg Wash and Glaze for the Cream Cheese Pastries!
In a small bowl, add one whole egg with one tablespoon of water. Stir until well blended.
Add 2 tablespoons of pure honey into a small bowl. Cut the lime in half crosswise.
Extract the juice from ½ lime, using a citrus squeezer.
This will thin out the honey and create a sweet and tangy mixture. Stir until well blended and set aside.
Making the Cream Cheese Mixture!
In a bowl, place the softened cream cheese (8 ounces), 4 tablespoons of powdered sugar and ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract. You can use a hand mixer or a large spoon to combine all the ingredients. Stir until a smooth consistency is formed.
NOTE: Soften the cream cheese at room temperature for 30 minutes to 1 hour prior to use. If you find that the cream cheese is not soft enough, then microwave for 15 seconds.
This is the right consistency for the cream cheese mixture. The cream cheese has been sweetened with powdered sugar and with a touch of vanilla flavoring.
NOTE: Fill a piping bag with the cream cheese mixture. I used the Star Tip for my cream cheese pattern.
Rolling and Cutting Puff Pastry Dough!
Remove one sheet of the puff pastry and open completely flat on the counter. Discard any wrapping paper. Cut the dough into 3 sections with a pizza cutter, along the folded seams.
NOTE: For this recipe, I used the Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry. Since the dough is frozen, thaw at room temperature for at least 40 minutes prior to use or refrigerate overnight.
Take one section at a time and gently roll out the dough to extend the height.
Cut the dough in half with a pizza cutter. Repeat this process for the other 2 sections.
NOTE: If you want smaller size Quesitos, then you do not have to roll out the dough, and you can also cut one section into three equal parts.
Place the squares on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. One sheet of the puff pastry will yield 6 Cream Cheese Pastries (Quesitos).
Filling the Puff Pastry with Cream Cheese Mixture!
Using a piping bag, apply the filling at an angle with sufficient amount of crease cheese.
Shaping the Dough for the Cream Cheese Pastries (Quesitos)!
First brush one end of dough with egg wash to secure the dough when folded.
Take the opposite end, and fold over the cream cheese, pressing down where the egg wash was applied.
Gently stretch the other end with egg wash.
Wrap over and under the quesito to seal.
Keep the folded side down. Transfer to a smaller baking pan lined with parchment paper. Continue this process until all the quesitos are formed.
Brushing with Egg Wash and Sprinkling with Raw Sugar!
Brush on top and sides of each Cream Cheese Pastries (Quesitos) with the egg wash. This will create a shiny golden-brown crust.
We normally sprinkle the Quesitos with granulated sugar, but I prefer to use raw sugar cane (Turbinado).
Sprinkle the top of each Quesitos with raw sugar.
Baking the Cream Cheese Pastries (Quesitos)!
Place in oven at 350°F and bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown.
NOTE: I recommend to place the Quesitos in the refrigerator for 15 to 20 minutes before baking. Remember, the secret for creating flaky layers is to keep the dough firm and chilled.
The quesitos are done. They have a beautiful golden-brown crust that is flaky. I love to see plenty of cream cheese on both ends. Let stand to cool for a few minutes.
Glazing the Cream Cheese Pastries!
Lightly brush a thin coating of the honey glaze on top and sides of each quesito. The glaze will change their appearance and add another layer of flavor. Traditionally, we use Karo Syrup, but I prefer to use pure honey with a touch of lime.
I cut one quesito in half so that you can see the flaky layers with the cream cheese.
Cream Cheese Pastries (Quesitos)!
These delicious Cream Cheese Pastries (Quesitos) have a light flaky texture with a tasty cream cheese filling. They are great for breakfast! However, since we traditionally drink a cup of Puerto Rican coffee in the afternoon, this will definitely make your coffee taste better!
Click on the button below to watch my YouTube Video on How to Prepare Quesitos!
Recipe and Nutritonal Facts!
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. Please refer to our Nutritional Facts Disclaimer for more information.
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Cream Cheese Pastries (Quesitos)
- Prep Time: 30 Minutes
- Cook Time: 30 Minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 6 Servings 1x
Description
Cream Cheese Pastries (Quesitos), a very popular pastry in Puerto Rico, are prepared with a puff pastry dough that is filled with a cream cheese mixture. Once baked, the Quesitos are then brushed on top with a syrup. These delicious pastries have a golden brown crust that is flaky with a tasty cream cheese filling. They are usually served in the morning for breakfast or in the afternoon as a snack with a cup of Puerto Rican coffee with milk (Café con Leche).
Ingredients
- 1 Sheet Puff Pastry
Cream Cheese Mixture
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 4 tablespoons powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Egg Wash
- 1 whole egg
- 1 tablespoon water
Glaze
- 2 Tablespoons pure honey
- ½ lime, extract the juice
Raw Sugar Cane (Turbinado) to sprinkle on top of the pastries
Instructions
- Stir all the ingredients of cream cheese mixture in a bowl until a smooth consistency is formed. Fill a piping bag with the cream cheese mixture. Use a star tip or the tip of your choice to release the filling.
- Place the ingredients for egg wash in a bowl, and stir until well blended.
- Add the ingredients for the glaze in a bowl, and mix until well combined.
- Cut the sheet of puff pastry into 6 equal sections (rectangles). Apply the filling at an angle on top with sufficient amount of cream cheese.
- Form the Quesitos by first brushing one end of dough with egg wash. Take the opposite end and fold over the cream cheese, pressing down where the egg wash was applied. Take the end with the egg wash and gently stretch the dough to wrap over and under the quesito to seal. Keep the folded side down.
- Transfers the Quesitos to a baking pan lined with parchment paper.
- Brush each one with the egg wash on top as well as sprinkle with the raw sugar cane.*
- Place in oven at 350°F, and bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand to cool.
- Lightly brush a thin coating of the honey glaze on top and sides of each quesito. Enjoy!
Notes
* I recommend to place the quesitos in the refrigerator for 15 to 20 minutes before baking. This will create flaky layers when the dough is firm and chilled.
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Puerto Rican
Keywords: Quesitos, Cream Cheese Pastries
4 Comments. Leave new
They came out yummy ready fir breakfast.
★★★★★
Hola Sylvia, I am glad the cream cheese pastries were a success and ready to be consumed for breakfast. This makes me happy!
I had done quesitos for years, some with cheese and guava, others with different fruits.
I never put confectioner sugar in the cream cheese,but tried now, and they tasted yum.
Hola Sylvia, I would go to the bakery in Puerto Rico every morning (3 years ago) and order the quesitos. However, if I wanted the pastries with guava, I would order the pastelillos de Guayaba. I also have the recipe and visual steps for the Guava pastries on this food blogging website but without the cheese. You can definitely add the cream cheese as well. It is great to try many methods or fruit fillings with our tropical pastries!