Pastel Gloria is a traditional Colombian dessert. It's delicious with the perfect combination of sweet and salty.
Today I would like to introduce one of my favorite traditional Colombian desserts. Which, conveniently, is also ridiculously easy to make. I have no idea how Pastel Gloria got its name, but it is a popular dessert in my country.
What is Pastel Gloria?
It is essentially puff pastry filled with dulce de leche (arequipe), guava paste (bocadillo) and cheese.
In Colombia you can find these delicious pastries at every bakery. They are easy and quick to make, and perfect with cup or tea or coffee.
Ingredients You'll Need
The printable recipe card with exact amounts and baking directions is below
Puff Pastry: I prefer using store bough frozen pastry to make this recipe, because it's easy for me. But you can make your own from scratch if you prefer.
Dulce de Leche: I have a homemade dulce de leche recipe if you want to use it, but you can buy it at any supermarket or online if you prefer.
Guava Paste: Also know as bocadillo in Colombia is a sweet ingredient very popular in latin America. You can find it at latin markets or online.
Sugar: Adds little crunch to the pasteles. This is an optional ingredient, but I really like the texture.
Cheese: I like to use mozzarella cheese, but queso blanco will work too.
Egg: To seal the pastries and add on top before baking.
How to Make Pastel Gloria
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Flour a clean, dry counter top or other flat working surface. Lay out the puff pasty on the floured surface. Flour the top of the dough. Roll out the puff pastry until it is half as thick (about ⅛-inch).
Using a large cookie cutter, cut into 24 circles and brush the edges of each circle with the egg. A little off center of each circle, place 1 slice of guava paste, 1 slice of cheese and about ½ tablespoon dulce de leche. Place another circle on top to enclose the filling.
Crimp the edges with a fork. Repeat with the remaining pasteles, placing them on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet as you go. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown and puffy.
Sprinkle with the sugar on top, then cool the pasteles on a rack for 10 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.
More Easy Desserts to Try
Arroz con Leche (Rice Pudding)
Pionono de Arequipe (Dulce de Leche and Coconut Cake Roll)
Alfajores (Dulce de Leche Cookie Sandwich)
Pastel Gloria Recipe (Guava, Dulce de Leche and Cheese Pastry)
Ingredients
- 1 package of frozen puff pastry thawed
- 1 egg lightly beaten
- 2 tablespoons sugar for garnish
- 4 oz guava paste sliced
- 4 oz white or mozarella cheese sliced
- 4 oz dulce de leche
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Flour a clean, dry counter top or other flat working surface. Lay out the puff pasty on the floured surface. Flour the top of the dough. Roll out the puff pastry until it is half as thick (about ⅛-inch).
- Using a large cookie cutter, cut into 24 circles and brush the edges of each circle with the egg. A little off center of each circle, place 1 slice of guava paste, 1 slice of cheese and about ½ tablespoon dulce de leche. Place another circle on top to enclose the filling.
- Crimp the edges with a fork. Repeat with the remaining pasteles, placing them on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet as you go. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown and puffy.
- Sprinkle with the sugar on top, then cool the pasteles on a rack for 10 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Rachel
Imagine someone who is not familiar with this type of pastry, trying to make it. Instructions to use a "large" cut-out, with no measurements? Why not Just measure yours, and tell us what size, please.
Ana Maria Maz de Diaz
HI, I HAVE NEVER MADE IT WITH CHEESE, BUT I'M GOING TO TRY THIS TIME.
Jenn
These are delicious and so easy to make. My family was begging me to make more before we'd even finished the first batch. I'll definitely be making these again soon.
Catalina Vasquez
Bake at 400 oF at least!! Better to have the pastries in the freezer for at least 10 minutes before going into the hot oven.
Maria
These look so good! Do you brush the pastry with egg before baking? Do you sprinkle the sugar on the pastry before baking? The image shows it on before baking but the instructions say after. I am making these tonight and I don’t want to mess them up!
debi
I have a Columbian ESL student. For our end-of-the-year class, I invited him and his family to dinner. These pastries were the #1 hit.
I used many of the recipes on this site for the meal I served. There were very few things that weren't a delight to them.
Thank you so much!
Valeria
OMG!!!! tengo que hacer estos ASAP! thank you for the recipe!!!
Respondon
Also works great with long rolls. Take a typical puff pastry box of two sheets pre-folded in threes, cut into the six sections and roll out to 1/8 inch thickness, and make three long rolls.