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    Home » Recipes » Desserts

    Quesitos (Sweet Cheese Pastries)

    by Stephenie Published: Sep 27, 2023 · Modified: Sep 17, 2024 . Leave a Comment. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe

    Quesitos are one of the many delicious varieties of desserts served in Puerto Rican bakeries. These sweet cheese pastries are pure perfection!

    3 quesitos over a brown parchment paper.

    Quesitos are long puff pastry rolls that are stuffed with sweet cream cheese and glace with a silky sugar mixture. They’re flaky, sweet, and delicious!

    Quesitos are my absolute favorite dessert from a Puerto Rican bakery. There you’ll get quesitos along with all the typical breakfast like the sweet cream of wheat or sweet oatmeal.

    Now you can make this recipe at home just how you like it. I like my quesitos with a lot of cheese! They’re the Puerto Rican Danish version.

    Jump to:
    • Why This Recipe Works
    • Recipe Ingredients
    • How To Make Quesitos Bakery Style
    • Recipe Tips
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • More Sweet Recipes
    • Quesitos (Sweet Cheese Pastries)

    Why This Recipe Works

    • The quesitos are one of the most popular things to serve at Puerto Rican parties. You can also serve them just like we do in a tray along with guava puff pastries or Puerto Rican sandwichitos de mezcla. Trust me, they’re a hit at every party!

    Recipe Ingredients

    ingredients for quesitos.
    • Cream cheese- The filling always used in quesitos is cream cheese. It is best to use good quality cheese for a better taste. While traditionally only cream cheese is used, ricotta cheese is a great substitute.
    • Sugar- I used white granulated sugar both in the cheese mixture and as a topping You can also use the same amount of brown sugar or powdered sugar. A note on the powder sugar is that it will be less sweet than the other options. 
    • Vanilla Extract- I use vanilla extract to enhance the flavor of the cheese. I have also used almond extract but this is not commonly used in quesitos but is still very delicious.
    • Puff pastry- You can make your puff pastry or use frozen as I do. I like using the frozen puff pastry because is super convenient and very easy to work with. 
    • Egg and Water- The egg and the water are needed to make an egg wash to brush over the quesitos. While the eggwash is not a must I highly suggest it. It helps give the quesito a nice color and it makes it crunchier which is good when you’re making anything with a puff pastry.
    • Sugar and water-  You only need equal amounts of sugar and water to make a really good simple syrup to go over the quesitos.

    How To Make Quesitos Bakery Style


    steps 1-4 on how to make puerto rican quesitos.
    • Step 1: Make the cheese filling by first mixing the sugar and cheese. You need your cheese to be at room temperature or at least warm enough to be able to work with it. Then add the vanilla extract and mix it in. Mix it by hand long enough for all the ingredients to come together but don’t over-mix. The more you move it around the softer and warmer it will get.
    • Step 2: Cut the puff pastry dough. For this recipe, I have 2 sheets of puff pastry and I will cut each one into 6 equal rectangular pieces. To avoid getting your puff pastry stuck to your surface is best to flour the surface you’ll be working on.
    • Step 3: Scoop 2 tablespoons of the sweetened cream cheese and try to spread it along the rectangular shape.
    • Step 4: Roll the quesitos, gently pinch the corners, and very gently press on the seam to make sure it doesn’t open during the baking process.
    steps 5-8 on how to make puerto rican quesitos.
    • Step 5: Place your quesitos on a baking sheet spaced out at least half of an inch apart. You may need to use a couple of trays to bake depending on how many quesitos you make. Mix the egg and the water and brush them on the quesitos.
    • Step 6: Sprinkle some sugar along each quesitos. You can skip this step but it adds flavor, color, and crunch to the quesitos.
    • Step 7: While the oven preheats make the glaze. In a small pan add the sugar and water. Cook and let it chill until your quesitos are done.
    • Step 8: Brush each quesito generously with the glaze. 

    Recipe Tips

    • Keep your cream cheese mixture cold until you’re ready to use. This is to avoid the cheese from coming out of the quesitos while baking.
    • Store the quesitos in an airtight container for no more than 3 days. Or keep it in the microwave or oven.
    6 quesitos on a tray.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Why did my quesitos open up?

    There are 3 common reasons why this happens. First, it can be that it had way too much filling so naturally it came out while baking. The second, the quesito wasn’t sealed. The third and most common reason is that the cream cheese is too warm before baking so it oozes out.

    What Can I Use To Glaze Quesitos?

    I typically use a simple syrup for quesitos which is just equal parts sugar and water. Honey is also a really good glazing option. You can also use corn syrup. The most popular corn syrup brand to use is Karo but any off-brand will do. A note on the corn syrup is that is a stickier option. That’s why I prefer to use a simple syrup that I can quickly make at home.

    More Sweet Recipes

    • 3 balls of a coconut sorbet served on a coconut shell.
      Helado De Coco (Puerto Rican Coconut Sorbet)
    • plate with a big piece of a lemon tres leches decorated with lemons on top.
      Lemon Tres Leches Cake
    • close up view of a few pieces of pumpkin flan with a star anise as garnish on top.
      Flan de Calabaza (Pumpkin Flan)
    • a loaf of pumpkin cake with frosting on a countertop.
      Frosted Pumpkin Bread

    💬 If you enjoyed this Quesitos recipe, give it a 5-star rating and leave a comment, or question below. 

    If you rather watch how to make a recipe you can follow us on YouTube and our Facebook Page. Or keep up with us on Instagram and Pinterest.

    a piramid of quesitos with one on the side.

    Quesitos (Sweet Cheese Pastries)

    Quesitos are delicious pastries filled with creamy sweet cheese. Perfect to indulge for dessert or a a mini-party food.
    By: Stephenie
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Pin Recipe Save Saved!
    Prep :10 minutes mins
    Cook :25 minutes mins
    Time :35 minutes mins
    servings :12

    Ingredients
      

    Quesitos

    • 12 ounces cream cheese soften
    • 6 tablespoons sugar
    • ½ teaspoon sugar for sprinkling
    • 1 ½ tablespoons vanilla extract
    • 1 pound puff pastry
    • 1 egg
    • 1 tablespoon water

    Simple syrup

    • ½ cup water
    • ½ cup sugar
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking tray with baking paper. Beat the egg with a tablespoon of water. Set it aside for later.
    • In a large bowl add the cream cheese and 6 tablespoons of sugar. Mix until almost all the sugar is incorporated. Add vanilla and mix until smooth. Set aside.
    • Cut each sheet of puff pastry into 6 equal pieces.
    • Place 2 tablespoons of the cheese mixture on each of the puff pastry pieces. Spread the beaten egg around the edges of each piece. Roll the dough into a cylinder and lightly pinch the edges.
    • Place the quesitos on your tray with the line facing down. Leave at least ½ inch of space between them. Spread a thin layer of egg wash on all the quesitos. Sprinkle sugar on top of all of them. Bake for 25 minutes.
    • In a small pot over high heat add ½ cup water and ½ cup sugar. Cook for 8 minutes. Let it cool while the quesitos bake.
    • Generously spread your quesitos with the glaze. Enjoy!

    Recipe Notes

    1. Making- You can make quesitos bigger or smaller and make different shapes. To make mini quesitos in their traditional shape just cut each pastry sheet into 9 pieces. Place only 1 tablespoon of cheese on each. Then follow the rest of the steps.
    2. Puff Pastry- Flour your surface to avoid the puff pastry from sticking.
    3. Cream cheese mixture- Keep the cheese mixture cold until ready to use. This is to prevent the cheese from oozing out while baking.
    4. Storing- Store the quesitos in an airtight container. Keep for no more than 3 days. I don’t recommend freezing them because the texture of the cheese will change and the pastry can get soggy while defrosting.
    Remember: If you have any questions about this recipe, ask me anything in the comments below the recipe. As soon as I see the comment I will answer and try to help you out.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 378kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.002g | Cholesterol: 42mg | Sodium: 189mg | Potassium: 69mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 401IU | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 1mg
    Course :Dessert | Snack
    Cuisine :puertorican
    Tried this Recipe? Leave A Comment Below!

    Did you like this Puerto Rican Quesitos Recipe? If you love a sweet snack try these!

    Sorullitos de maiz

    Pumpkin Cake Loaf

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    I'm Stephenie the creator and cook behind Food Metamorphosis. Here you'll find flavorful and easy-to-follow recipes.

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