Pastelitos
Photo: El rrienseolava · CC BY-SA 4.0

History

Pastelitos arrived in Miami with Cuban exiles in the 1960s, drawing on Spanish empanada and laminated-dough traditions. Vicky Bakery opened in 1972, Pinecrest Bakery followed in 2007, and the form went 24-hour with Hialeah panaderias. The classic flavours are guayaba (guava), guayaba con queso, carne (ground beef) and coco (coconut).

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Common allergens: Gluten, Egg, Dairy

Make it at home

Yield 12Hands-on 45 minTotal 1 hr 45 minDifficulty Intermediate

Ingredients

  • 500g all-butter puff pastry, defrosted
  • 200g guayaba paste, sliced thin
  • 150g cream cheese, sliced (optional, for guayaba con queso)
  • 1 egg, beaten with 1 tbsp water for wash
  • 2 tbsp granulated sugar
  • Flour, to dust

Method

  1. Preheat oven to 200C with a baking sheet inside.
  2. Roll puff pastry to 3mm thick. Cut into 12 squares of 10cm each.
  3. Place a slice of guayaba paste (and cream cheese if using) on half of each square. Brush edges with egg wash.
  4. Fold pastry in half to form rectangles. Press edges with a fork to seal. Brush tops with egg wash and sprinkle with sugar.
  5. Bake on the hot sheet for 18 to 22 minutes, until deep gold and puffed. Cool for 5 minutes before eating.

Tip from the editors. Do not over-roll the pastry; the laminated layers are what give pastelitos their signature crackle. Guayaba paste is sold in 14oz bricks at Latin grocers.

Where to eat pastelitos

Pastelitos in Miami

Vicky Bakery ★ 4.3

$ Street food

Vicky Bakery in Miami is the family-owned Cuban panaderia chain founded 1972, with Miami Lakes at 13925 NW 67th Avenue pouring pastelitos and cafecito.

TryPastelitos and cafecito

TipGuayaba con queso is the classic; the croquetas restock through the day. Goldbelly ships nationwide.

Directions

Pinecrest Bakery ★ 4.1

$$ New AmericanUntil 24 hours (flagship)

Pinecrest Bakery in Miami is the 24-hour Cuban-American chain at 12101 S Dixie Highway, opening pastelitos and croquetas around the clock to the I-95.

TryPastelitos, croquetas and cafecito 24-hour

TipFlagship runs 24 hours. The cortadito is strongest at 3am when the pastry trays refill.

Directions

Versailles ★ 4.5

$$ CaribbeanUntil Mon-Thu 00:00, Fri-Sat 01:00, Sun 00:00

Versailles in Miami is the 1971 Cuban institution at 3555 SW 8th Street, open until midnight every night and 1am on weekends with the ventanita pouring.

TryCuban full plates and ventanita cafecito

TipWeekend 1am closing on the dining room; the ventanita stays open later. Order vaca frita and a cortadito.

Directions

Tropical Bakery ★ 4.0

$$ Caribbean

Tropical Bakery is a caribbean room in Miami. Bring cash for the smaller orders. The pastelitos restock through the night; the bread is hottest at 3am.

Why locals goTwenty-four hours, deep in Hialeah, this family Cuban bakery bakes pan cubano hot at midnight and again at 6am for the post-shift hospital and warehouse crowd.

TipBring cash for the smaller orders. The pastelitos restock through the night; the bread is hottest at 3am.

Directions

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