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Guava Tart Recipe, Caribbean-Inspired Vanilla, Guava and Ricotta Cheese Dessert

  • Español
Servings: 6 portions

Calories: 553kcal

I am sure that anybody that knows and love guava will greatly enjoy a piece of this creamy vanilla, ricotta cheese and guava tart. As a denizen of a Caribbean piece of paradise I feel as if I am legally required to love all fresh guava dessert recipes in all their fragrant, sweet glory.

Why I ❤️ it • Recipe • Ingredients • Preparation

Caribbean guava tart (ricotta cheesecake pie)

Why I ❤️ it

I love guava, it is a reminder of the bounty of the tropics, and this recipe is inspired by our custom of eating guava paste with cheese. I had this idea going around my head for a long, long time. Until I went through a cheesecake stage and just made it. This dessert was a huge success with my cheesecake-loving friends.

A layer of crispy pie shell filled with creamy, vanilla ricotta cheesecake, and topped with a guava-custard-like layer of fragrant guava paste. The recipe gives you the choice to make everything from scratch, or make your life easier by buying some of it pre-made.

Ricotta cheesecake guava tart recipe

This recipe contains affiliate links.

Learn how to make a Caribbean-inspired guava tart with a crispy crust, a layer of vanilla-flavored ricotta cheesecake and topped with guava custard-like paste.

Course: Dessert
Inspiration: Caribbean
Category: caribbean guava tart recipe, guava cheese tart, guava fridge tart recipe, guava tart filling recipe
Author: Clara González

Prep Time15 mins
Cook Time1 hr 30 mins
Cooling and chilling7 hrs
Total Time8 hrs 45 mins

Utensils and tools

  • Medium saucepan
  • Medium mesh strainer
  • Blender
  • 9" pie pan with removable bottom
  • Oven
Guava tart cheesecake
Guava tart cheesecake

Ingredients

To make the guava paste

  • 3 pounds of [1.4 kilogram] of guava fruit
  • ¾ cup sugar (white, granulated)

To make the crust

  • 8 ounces [0.7 kilogram] of Graham crackers
  • ⅓ stick, (0.20 pound [85.05 grams]) of salted butter, at room temperature

To make the ricotta filling

  • 2 cups of ricotta cheese
  • 2 eggs (medium)
  • 1 ½ cup of condensed milk
  • 1 vanilla pod (or 1 tablespoon of clear vanilla extract)

Preparation

Before starting, please make sure you have all the ingredients and utensils ready.

Step 1

To make the guava paste, wash the guavas and cut them into halves. Scoop the seed balls from the shells. Set aside the shells.

Mix the seeds with a 1 ½ quart [1.5 liter] of water and the sugar. Simmer over low heat until the liquid has reduced to a third.

Step 2

Sieve to remove the seeds. Add the guava shells to the liquid. Simmer over low heat until the liquid has further reduced to half.

Remove from the heat and cool to room temperature.

Step 3

Mix in a blender until there are no clumps. Return to the heat and simmer stirring over low heat until it becomes very thick.

Remove from the heat and set it aside.

Step 4

To make the crust, place the chilled butter and graham crackers in the food processor and pulse until it resembles wet sand.

Pour it into the pie form. Press on the bottom and sides to form an even crust. Chill in the fridge for an hour. Once 30 minutes have passed, pre-heat oven to 300 ºF [150 ºC] and proceed with the next step.

Step 5

To make the ricotta cheesecake filling, open the vanilla pod lengthwise and scrape out the seeds with a paring knife.

In the blender vase or food processor bowl, combine ricotta, vanilla seeds and condensed milk, blend to combine. Add the eggs and mix thoroughly. Pour the ricotta mix into the chilled crust.

Step 6

Bake for 30 minutes.

Remove from the oven, cover with the guava jam, and let it cool to room temperature covered with a clean tea towel. Once cooled, chill for at least 6 hours before serving, preferably overnight.

Variations

If you don't have guava, or want to save some time, you can buy guava paste and heat it in the microwave for 30 seconds and stir in 3 tablespoons of water instead of making the guava paste at home.

Another way to make guava paste suggested by a commenter in Europe: buy canned guava shells in syrup, blend, and then reduce by simmering over low heat until it has a jelly-like consistency. I have not tested this one, but I am pretty sure it does work. She also suggested adding a bit of lime juice to "brighten" the flavor.

You can also buy a pre-made pie shell, and also save some time if you wish.

The same recipe, minus the guava paste, works wonderfully as a strawberry tart, use store-bought strawberry jelly for the top layer instead of using guava paste for another great version.

Top tips

Please remember, the recipe calls for sweetened condensed milk, the sticky, thick kind with sugar added.

Allow plenty of time to make your fresh guava topping. Separating seed ball from fruit, then straining the reduced liquid into the cut up fruit and reheating then blending takes a long time.

I made the sauce topping the day before and assembled the dessert the next day.
Then you must chill dessert preferably overnight. This may be a two day process if you make everything from scratch!

Don't be impatient, let the pie chill thoroughly before serving. I made that mistake the first time and, while it tasted equally glorious, the consistency was too mushy for my taste.

While it says it yields 6 portions atop, you can serve 8 nice slices too. If you cut the guava tart into eighths, each slices will have 615 calories instead.

Fresh guava cheesecake
Fresh guava cheesecake

Nutritional information

Calories: 820kcal - Carbohydrates: 131g - Protein: 24g - Fat: 25g - Saturated Fat: 14g - Cholesterol: 127mg - Sodium: 351mg - Potassium: 1352mg - Fiber: 13g - Sugar: 97g - Vitamin A: 2015IU - Vitamin C: 519.8mg - Calcium: 510mg - Iron: 2.1mg

FAQs

What is a guava tart??

Guava tart is made with a crispy, cookie shell, a layer of creamy ricotta cheese, and a top layer of smooth guava paste.

Print card

This is just a printer-friendly summary, some useful details are found in the recipe above.

Print

Vanilla, ricotta cheesecake and guava paste tart

Ingredients

For the guava jam

  • 3 pound guava
  • ¾ cup sugar (white, granulated)

For the crust

  • 8 onces Graham crackers
  • ⅓ stick of butter  [85.05 gram], at room temperature

For the ricotta filling

  • 2 cups Ricotta cheese
  • 2 egg (medium)
  • 1½ cup condensed milk
  • 1 vanilla pod

Instructions

  • To make the guava paste, wash the guavas and cut them into halves. Scoop the seed balls from the shells. Set aside the shells.
    Mix the seeds with a 1 ½ quart [1.5 liter] of water and the sugar. Simmer over low heat until the liquid has reduced to a third.
  • Sieve to remove the seeds. Add the guava shells to the liquid. Simmer over low heat until the liquid has further reduced to half.
    Remove from the heat and cool to room temperature.
  • Mix in a blender until there are no clumps. Return to the heat and simmer stirring over low heat until it becomes very thick.
    Remove from the heat and set it aside.
  • To make the ricotta cheesecake filling, open the vanilla pod lengthwise and scrape out the seeds with a paring knife.
    In the blender vase or food processor bowl, combine ricotta, vanilla seeds and condensed milk, blend to combine. Add the eggs and mix thoroughly. Pour the ricotta mix into the chilled crust.
  • Bake for 30 minutes.
    Remove from the oven, cover with the guava jam, and let it cool to room temperature covered with a clean tea towel. Once cooled, chill for at least 6 hours before serving, preferably overnight.

Notes

Please remember, the recipe calls for sweetened condensed milk, the sticky, thick kind with sugar added.
Allow plenty of time to make your fresh guava topping. Separating seed ball from fruit, then straining the reduced liquid into the cut up fruit and reheating then blending takes a long time.
Don't be impatient, let the pie chill thoroughly before serving. I made that mistake the first time and, while it tasted equally glorious, the consistency was too mushy for my taste.

Originally published on Jan 2, 2017

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Meran

    January 21, 2019 at 11:46 am

    5 stars
    I love guava too, and I so going to try this dessert. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Suzanna

      January 23, 2019 at 3:38 pm

      5 stars
      The topping came out incredibly smooth and delicious ! My guavas are bright pink inside from my huge 20 yr old tree. I blended the mixture in the Cuisinart
      It is a reddish pink ! What a beautiful topping! It was worth all the work!!

      Reply
      • Tia Clara

        January 28, 2019 at 1:22 pm

        I am glad that you liked it. Thanks for trying my recipe. ❤️

      • Suzanna

        February 03, 2019 at 2:25 am

        5 stars
        I’m making this recipe for the third time! I’m taking it to a Super Bowl Party tomorrow. Luckily, I made lots of Guava topping to use on top of the delicious ricotta cheesecake!

      • Suzanna

        February 03, 2019 at 2:51 am

        5 stars
        Wish I could post my picture of it.

  2. Scarlett Fondeur

    June 20, 2016 at 10:55 am

    A keeper! I couldn't find fresh guava (I live in Switzerland), but did find guava halves in a can at an "ethnic" food shop. I just drained the syrup and put the guava through a food processor. Next time I think I'll add some lime zest to brighten up the flavors. One more great recipe from Clara. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Suzanna

      January 15, 2019 at 2:34 pm

      5 stars
      I going to prepare this tomorrow since my guava tree has so many large fruits . Very pink inside !

      Reply
  3. teresa

    November 04, 2014 at 7:48 pm

    Sounds so good, could I make it with guava paste by any chance?

    Reply
    • Tia Clara

      November 05, 2014 at 5:04 pm

      Yes, if it is too thick you can thin it out by adding a bit of water and heating until they mix.

      Reply
  4. Estephany grullon

    January 31, 2014 at 10:29 am

    I had to post this on my Facebook!!!! thank you Clara for the time you dedicate to this website. A lot of my dominican cooking I have learned from you because my mom and grandma don't use measurements because of their experience.

    Reply
  5. Melissa from HungryFoodLove

    January 11, 2014 at 11:39 am

    Gracias Clara por compartir mi blog y el de otras blogueras Dominicanas. Algunas no las conocia y voy directo a disfrutar sus blogs. Un abrazo!

    Reply
  6. Mari´s @ Mari´s Cakes

    December 19, 2013 at 9:09 am

    Clara it is a mouthwatering looking dessert. I really in love with the topping more than anything! Thank you for sharing.

    Have a blessed week 🙂

    Reply
  7. Nami | Just One Cookbook

    December 19, 2013 at 2:58 am

    I love this flavor of pie/tart!! Oh my gosh, guava? If you didn't share this recipe, I wouldn't even think or encounter such a lovely flavor for a tart. You have gorgeous photography to make me drool even more.....

    Reply

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Hi, I'm Tía Clara! I have been a recipe developer, and recipe writer for 20 years, and here I share easy recipes you'll love.

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