Easy Holiday Entertaining Dessert Idea: Puerto Rican Quesitos Recipe {Video}

When it comes to Puerto Rican desserts and pastries, there is one I probably love even more than pastelillos de guayaba – quesitos. Quesitos have a nostalgic place in my heart as I have fond memories of eating this delicacy as a child in Puerto Rico and often asking my parents to buy me some when we visited a bakery. This Puerto Rican cheese puff pastry is super delicious and easy to make, something I wish I had known earlier!

If you’re looking for a simple dessert recipe for your holiday entertaining, try this quesitos recipe and watch the video below so you can see how to make quesitos, with common ingredients you can find at Walmart. Not only will party attendees gush over how delectable they are, but you’ll feel good about bringing something other than holiday cookies to the party!

Quesitos Recipe (Puerto Rican Cheese Puff Pastries)

Ingredients

• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 4 Tbsp sugar (substitute with Splenda for a sugar-free version)
• 1 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 puff pastry sheet, thawed according to package directions
• 1 egg white

How to Make Quesitos

1. Preheat oven to 400° F.
2. Add sugar and vanilla extract to cream cheese in a medium or large bowl. Using a hand mixer, mix on low until cream cheese has a soft, whipped texture.
3. Cut pastry sheet into 9 4×4 squares.
4. Add about 1 tsp of cream cheese mixture to middle of each square, at an angle.
5. Fold pastry sheet by bringing one side to the middle, then the other side. Pinch in the middle to seal. (Alternatively, you can add cream cheese mixture along the side of a square and roll pastry sheet closed, pinching each side to seal.)
6. Place quesitos on a baking sheet with parchment paper. Lightly brush each quesito with egg white, then sprinkle with sugar on top.
7. Bake for about 12 minutes, until golden brown.
8. Let quesitos cool before indulging!

More Puerto Rican Dessert Recipes for Holiday Entertaining

Check out these dessert ideas that are also great for your holiday entertaining!

• Tembleque (Puerto Rican Coconut Pudding)
• Strawberry and Cream Cheese Pastelitos (Just like pastelillos de guayaba, but with strawberry!)
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Flan

You can get even more holiday entertaining ideas and recipes (not just for dessert!) with the Walmart Holiday Entertaining Guide. It has easy, budget-friendly ideas for everything from breakfast and appetizers, to desserts and cocktails! (Check out the mac & cheese bacon bowls – I tried these during a Walmart headquarters trip and they really are divine!) You’ll also find many how-to videos on the entertaining guide to help you put together a wonderful party!

Now that you know how to make quesitos, will you be trying our quesitos recipe for your holiday party?

All photos © Melanie Edwards/modernmami™