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    Home » Recipes » Desserts » Quesitos (Cream Cheese Puff Pastry)

    Published: Apr 19, 2019 Modified: Dec 19, 2024 by Catherine Arena 22 Comments

    Quesitos (Cream Cheese Puff Pastry)

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    Puerto Rican Quesitos (Cream Cheese Puff Pastry) are flaky, buttery pastries filled with sweetened cream cheese. They’re simple to make and impossible to resist!

    Quesitos (Cream Cheese Puff Pastry) on a serving plate and more cooling off on a wire rack.

    Walk into any Puerto Rican bakery and you’re going to find a tempting array of delicious treats like pastelillos de guayaba (guava pastries), mantecaditos (shortbread cookies), mallorcas (sweet bread), brazo gitano (guava roll), and of course, quesitos.

    These flaky pastries, filled with sweetened cream cheese, are a favorite not only across the island but of course in our home! If you’ve never tried a quesito, it’s the perfect combination of creamy and crisp and are delicious with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate for breakfast or afternoon snack. Once you try one, you’ll understand why they’re so loved on our beautiful island!

    Jump to:
    • Why We Love this Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Substitutions and Variations
    • Instructions
    • Expert Tips
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Other Desserts You Will Love
    • 📖 Recipe

    Why We Love this Recipe

    • Flaky and Creamy – It’s the perfect mix of flaky and creamy, with buttery puff pastry and a sweet cream cheese filling that is simply delicious and hard to resist. My family loves when I make these, they don’t last a full day!
    • Enjoy Anytime – Quesitos are perfect for breakfast, a quick snack, or served as a sweet dessert. They’re especially great for the holidays since they’re so easy to make.
    • A Taste of Home for My Family – For me, making treats like flancocho (vanilla flan cake), flan de coco (coconut flan) and pastries, isn’t just about delicious treats and desserts but it’s about keeping our Puerto Rican foods alive and reminding my family of home.

    Ingredients

    Ingredients to make quesitos.
    • puff pastry
    • cream cheese
    • confectioners sugar
    • egg wash

    See my recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.

    Substitutions and Variations

    Dough: If you don’t have puff pastry, use a flaky dough like crescent roll dough.

    Cheese Filling – If you love pastries that have cinnamon in them, try adding a teaspoon of vanilla extract and a little ground cinnamon to the cheese filling.

    Fruit Filling – Try adding a thin slice of guava paste like I did here in my recipe for empanadillas de guayaba (guava empanadas). You can also try pineapple, mango or strawberry jam on top of the cheese filling.

    Topping – We usually finish quesitos off with powdered sugar but another idea is to drizzle some honey on top.

    Instructions

    Prepared cream cheese filling in a glass mixing bowl.

    Step 1: Pre-heat oven to 400°F.

    Add the cream cheese and confectioners sugar to a mixing bowl and blend well together using a hand mixer. Set aside.

    Puff pastry dough flatten a little and cut into squares to make the quesitos.

    Step 2: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the thawed puff pastry a little or until it measures approximately 12×12 inches.

    Next, cut the dough into 4×4 inch squares. You should get 9 equal squares to one puff pastry sheet. Do the same with the second puff pastry sheet.

    Adding the cream cheese filling to the puff pastry squares.

    Step 3: Spread a tablespoon of the cream cheese filling to the center of each square.

    Sealing the puff pastry squares.

    Step 4: Flip one corner of the puff pastry over filling and press corner down. Then flip the other side over and gently press down on puff pastry to seal.

    Egg wash in a bowl to glaze the quesitos before baking.

    Step 5: Crack an egg into a bowl. With a spoon remove yolk and discard. Using a fork, mix egg white until foamy.

    The quesitos laying in a baking sheet, ready to bake.

    Step 6: Transfer prepared quesitos to baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush egg white on prepared quesitos.

    Freshly baked Quesitos (Cream Cheese Puff Pastry) sitting on a baking sheet.

    Step 7: Bake for about 15-20 minutes or until puffy, flaky and golden brown.

    Quesitos (Cream Cheese Puff Pastry) cooling off on a wire rack and then topped with powdered sugar.

    Step 8: Transfer the quesitos to a wire rack to cool. Once cooled, sprinkle with the confectioners sugar and serve.

    Quesitos (Cream Cheese Puff Pastry) on a serving plate and more cooling off on a wire rack.

    Expert Tips

    • Keep the Puff Pastry Cold: It is important to work quickly with the dough to help maintain its flakiness. If it gets to warm, pop it in the fridge for a few minutes before continuing.
    • Seal Well: Prevent the filling from leaking out by ensuring you seal the edges well.
    • Don’t Overfill: Be cautious not to overfill with the cream cheese filling, as this can cause the pastries to burst open when baking.
    • Use Parchment Paper: To prevent the pastries from sticking to the baking sheet, use parchment paper or baking mat.

    Recipe FAQs

    Can I add anything else to the filling?

    Absolutely! Guava paste, dulce de leche, strawberry, pineapple or mango jams are all delicious ideas and even fresh fruit like blueberries.

    Can I make the filling ahead of time?

    You can prepare the cheese filling and refrigerate it for up to two days ahead of time before using.

    How do I prevent my quesitos from leaking during baking?

    To prevent the quesitos from leaking, make sure to not overfill them and ensure to seal the dough before baking.

    How do I store leftovers?

    Store in an air tight container or plastic bag for up to 5 days. 

    Do I have to reheat leftovers before eating?

    Enjoy quesitos cold, right out of refrigerator or re-heat for a few minutes in the oven if you prefer. However, quesitos are delicious warm, cold or at room temperature.

    Other Desserts You Will Love

    • Limber de Oreo topped with mini Oreos in plastic cups.
      Limber de Oreo
    • Empanadillas de Guayaba on a gray plate.
      Empanadillas de Guayaba
    • Flancocho (Vanilla Flan Cake) served on a white transparent platter with a serving on the side.
      Puerto Rican Flancocho
    • Limber de Coco (Coconut Limber) prepared and frozen in plastic cups, topped with shredded coconut and ground cinnamon.
      Limber de Coco

    Did you try this recipe? Please leave a ⭐ review below!

    Click any of the images in the post to PIN this Recipe and don’t forget to follow along on Pinterest and Facebook.

    📖 Recipe

    Quesitos (Cream Cheese Puff Pastry) served on a gray plate.

    Quesitos (Cream Cheese Puff Pastry)

    Puerto Rican Quesitos (Cream Cheese Puff Pastry) are flaky, buttery pastries filled with sweetened cream cheese. They're simple to make and impossible to resist!
    4.68 from 25 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine: Puerto Rican
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 18 quesitos
    Calories: 62kcal
    Author: Catherine Arena

    Equipment

    • hand mixer helpful but not necessary
    • parchment paper

    Ingredients

    • puff pastry thawed
    • 8 oz cream cheese
    • ⅔ cup confectioners sugar
    • 1 egg white whisked
    • flour for dusting on surface to roll dough

    Instructions

    Cream Cheese Filling

    • Pre-heat oven to 400°F.
      Add the cream cheese and confectioners sugar to a mixing bowl and blend well together using a hand mixer. Set aside.

    Puff Pastry

    • On a lightly floured surface, roll out the puff pastry a little or until it measures approximately 12×12 inches.
      Next, cut the dough into 4×4 inch squares. You should get 9 equal squares to one puff pastry sheet. Do the same with the second puff pastry sheet.

    Assembly

    • Spread a tablespoon of the cream cheese filling to the center of each square.
    • Flip one corner of the puff pastry over filling and press corner down. Then flip the other side over and gently press down on puff pastry to seal.

    Bake

    • Crack the egg into a bowl. With a spoon remove yolk and discard. Using a fork, mix egg white until foamy.
    • Transfer prepared quesitos to baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush egg white on prepared quesitos.
    • Bake for about 15-20 minutes or until puffy, flaky and golden brown.

    Cool

    • Transfer the quesitos to a wire rack to cool. Once cooled, sprinkle with the confectioners sugar and serve.

    Notes

    Recipe Notes:
    Dough: If you don’t have puff pastry, use a flaky dough like crescent roll dough.
    Cheese Filling – If you love pastries that have cinnamon in them, try adding a teaspoon of vanilla extract and a little ground cinnamon to the cheese filling.
    Customize Filling – Try adding a thin slice of guava paste, pineapple, mango or strawberry jam on top of the cheese filling.
    Topping – You can also drizzle some honey on top after baking.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 18 | Calories: 62kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 42mg | Potassium: 19mg | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 169IU | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 0.02mg
    Tried this recipe?Click the stars above or below to rate or leave a comment down below!

    More Dessert Recipes

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Valarie says

      February 21, 2022 at 1:42 pm

      I love baking these. I make many varieties. The all time favorite is lemon blueberry with lavender sugar.

      Reply
      • Cathy says

        February 22, 2022 at 10:25 am

        Wow Valerie! That sounds absolutely delicious! Lavender sugar! YUM! Would love to try these! Thank you for taking the time to comment and rate! Appreciate you and your time! Will definitely have to give the lemon blueberry with lavender sugar a try!

        Reply
    2. Rose says

      December 12, 2021 at 11:59 am

      Hello Cathy,
      Thank you for sharing! Can these be prepped ahead of time and baked later in the day?
      Thank you again!
      Rose

      Reply
      • Cathy says

        December 13, 2021 at 11:12 am

        Hello Rose! Yes! Absolutely you can, but do not prep days ahead as it will not bake the same way but 24 hrs to a few hours is fine. I hope that helps, if you have any other questions please let me know. 🙂

        Reply
    3. Mary says

      November 18, 2020 at 8:39 pm

      The best recipe ❤️

      Reply
      • Cathy says

        November 21, 2020 at 3:33 am

        Thank you so much Mary! I’m so happy you really enjoyed it! Warms my heart that I can share a recipe that you have enjoyed so much. Thank you for taking the time to let me know. Appreciate you!

        Reply
    4. Margie Reeves says

      September 23, 2020 at 9:53 am

      I plan on making these this week. They look delicious. I am wondering about adding strawberry jam. Does that get added on top of the cream cheese before folding in the corners, then baked. Can these be made ahead if time or should they be served warm. Thank tou.

      Reply
      • Cathy says

        September 24, 2020 at 12:40 am

        Hi Margie! Yes, add about half a teaspoon to a teaspoon of jam right on top of the cream cheese. Be careful not to add too much as it will flow out while baking. Normally these are served at room temperature so you can certainly make these ahead of time. For example you can make them in the morning and have them that evening but you can also serve them right out of the oven too. I prefer them at room temperature. If you make them a day or so ahead of time, then once they have cooled, store them in an airtight container. Place one layer of quesitos on the bottom of container, then use parchment or wax paper and lay on top of quesitos, then add another layer of quesitos. In other words add parchment or wax paper in between each layer to help retain freshness and refrigerate. Just be aware, although you can make them head of time, they’re best freshly made and then cooled because they’re scrumptiously flaky! YUM! Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions and how you like them!

        Reply
    5. Lorrie says

      December 12, 2019 at 11:18 pm

      I live in Orlando Florida and no one would share the recipe with me I’ve been looking for it in cookbooks and on line for 35 years. Lol. I just asked my fb friends if anyone could give me it and a great friend just sent it to me. Thank you It’s been a great secret here for years no one wanted to share The ones I’ve had from the bakery seemed to have honey on the dough. So they’re sticky and they’re rolled like a jelly roll. Is that also another way to do them? Thank you for your kindness in sharing

      Reply
      • Cathy says

        December 13, 2019 at 10:58 pm

        Hi Lorrie in beautiful sunny Florida! So happy I was able to help you with this recipe! Sorry you have been waiting soo long to find it! I personally know how many bakeries and chefs hold on to recipe secrets even to simple ones! I’m humbled you have chosen our recipe and our site to help you make this truly simple but delicious recipe! To answer your question, yes the honey added is another way of making them and they will be sticky….I do enjoy these as well but my favorite is with the confectioners sugar topping. Let me know how you enjoyed these! Thanks again Lorrie! 🥰

        Reply
    6. Jaim says

      December 06, 2019 at 11:52 am

      Just made these and they came out great. Definitely serving with jam to cut the sweet creaminess. Totally addictive

      Reply
      • Cathy says

        December 06, 2019 at 7:39 pm

        Hello Jaim! That is so great to hear!!! So happy you enjoy them and the jam is a great idea! I love them with a cup of “cafecito!” Have you tried the pastelillos yet? My absolute favorite since childhood!

        Reply
    7. Lindsey Pine says

      April 24, 2019 at 11:14 pm

      These remind me of the cream cheese treats I get at my local cuban bakery. I didn’t realize they were so easy to make! This is awesome!

      Reply
      • Cathy says

        April 25, 2019 at 1:09 am

        Thanks Lindsey! I know, these are so easy to make and so yummy!

        Reply
    8. Heidy L. McCallum says

      April 24, 2019 at 9:36 pm

      These look so fantastic, I rarely eat pastries, yet I love love love them…lol I will have to make these for my husband and kids. I bet they would love your recipe.

      Reply
      • Cathy says

        April 25, 2019 at 1:10 am

        Thanks Heidy! Let me know what they think about these!

        Reply
    9. Rosa says

      April 24, 2019 at 9:24 pm

      This pastry looks so flaky and perfect!! Totally drooling, thanks so much for sharing!

      Reply
      • Cathy says

        April 25, 2019 at 1:11 am

        Thanks Rosa!

        Reply
    10. Sara Welch says

      April 24, 2019 at 8:58 pm

      What a decadent dessert! I’ve never given these a shot, but they will be perfect for Cinco de Mayo!

      Reply
      • Cathy says

        April 25, 2019 at 1:12 am

        Thanks Sara! Yes they would!

        Reply
    11. Kelly Anthony says

      April 24, 2019 at 6:55 pm

      I love trying new foods and these quesitos look delicious. My family will devour these cream cheese pastries.

      Reply
      • Cathy says

        April 25, 2019 at 1:12 am

        Thanks Kelly!

        Reply
    4.68 from 25 votes (17 ratings without comment)

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