Quesitos
Quesitos, meaning 'little cheeses,' are a beloved Puerto Rican pastry made from flaky puff pastry wrapped around a sweet cream cheese filling and brushed with a simple syrup. They are a popular breakfast treat or dessert.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1 package (10-17.3 oz) Puff pastry sheets(thawed according to package directions)
- 8 oz Cream cheese(softened to room temperature)
- 0.5 cup Granulated sugar
- 1 large Egg(beaten with 1 tsp water for egg wash)
- 1 tsp Water(for egg wash)
- 0.5 cup Water(for simple syrup)
- 0.5 cup Granulated sugar(for simple syrup)
- 0.25 cup Honey or light corn syrup(for simple syrup)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
💡 Tip: Ensure the oven is fully preheated for even baking. - 2
Prepare the cream cheese filling: In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and granulated sugar until smooth and well combined. Set aside.
💡 Tip: Using room temperature cream cheese ensures a smooth filling without lumps. - 3
Prepare the puff pastry: Lightly flour a clean surface. Unfold the thawed puff pastry sheet and gently roll it out slightly to smooth any creases, aiming for a rectangle. Cut the pastry into 9 equal squares (approximately 4x4 inches each).
💡 Tip: Work quickly with puff pastry to keep it cold and flaky. - 4
Assemble the quesitos: Place about 1 tablespoon of the cream cheese filling in the center of each puff pastry square. Fold one corner over the filling, then fold the opposite corner over to create a sealed pastry. You can also fold them into a cigar shape.
💡 Tip: Don't overfill the pastry, as it can cause leakage during baking. - 5
Brush with egg wash: Arrange the assembled quesitos on the prepared baking sheet. Brush the tops with the egg wash mixture.
💡 Tip: The egg wash gives the pastries a beautiful golden-brown color. - 6
Bake: Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the puff pastry is puffed up and golden brown.
⏱️ 20 minutes - 7
Prepare the simple syrup: While the quesitos are baking, combine the water, sugar, and honey (or corn syrup) in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Bring to a boil and cook for 1 minute. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
💡 Tip: The syrup should be thin enough to brush easily. - 8
Glaze and serve: Once the quesitos are out of the oven, immediately brush them with the warm simple syrup. Let them cool for a few minutes before serving.
💡 Tip: Brushing while warm allows the syrup to absorb better.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓For an extra tropical flavor, add a teaspoon of vanilla extract to the cream cheese filling.
- ✓If you prefer a less sweet pastry, you can dust with powdered sugar instead of using the syrup.
- ✓Quesitos are best enjoyed fresh, but can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for a day.
🔄 Variations
- Add a small amount of guava paste to the cream cheese filling for a guava quesito.
- Incorporate a pinch of cinnamon into the cream cheese filling.