Quesitos (Sweet Cream Cheese Pastries)

Updated: March 5, 2025

🍽️ Recipe Overview

• Total Time: 1¼ hours (75 minutes)

• Prep Time: 30 minutes

• Cook Time: 45 minutes

• Difficulty: Moderate (Requires careful handling of puff pastry)

📋 Ingredients

• 2 (8-ounce/226g) blocks cream cheese, softened to room temperature

• ½ teaspoon vanilla paste or extract

• ½ teaspoon kosher salt (e.g., Diamond Crystal) or ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt

• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar or honey (adjust to taste; honey adds subtle depth)

• 1 large egg (room temperature, for egg wash)

• 1 (14–17.3-ounce/397–490g) package frozen puff pastry sheets, thawed but kept chilled (see Tips)

• All-purpose flour, for dusting work surface

👩🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prep Workstation & Oven

• Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Position racks in the upper and lower thirds.

• Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. Prepare Cream Cheese Filling

• In a medium bowl, combine softened cream cheese, vanilla paste/extract, salt, and sugar/honey.

• Mix with a fork or electric mixer (low speed) until smooth and lump-free. Transfer to a piping bag fitted with a 1-inch round tip (or a freezer bag with a ½-inch corner snipped off).

3. Make Egg Wash

• In a small bowl, whisk 1 egg with 1 tablespoon cold water until fully blended (no streaks). Set aside.

4. Roll & Cut Puff Pastry

• Critical: Puff pastry must stay chilled while working. If softening, refrigerate 10 minutes to firm.

• Roll 1–2 pastry sheets into 15×10-inch rectangles (floured rolling pin, even pressure).

• Cut into 6 equal 5×5-inch squares:

• Slice lengthwise into 2 strips (15×5 inches each).

• Slice each strip into 3 equal 5×5-inch squares (6 per sheet).

5. Fill & Fold Quesitos (Letter-Fold Technique)

• Filling Line: Pipe a 1-inch wide cream cheese line across the center of each square, leaving ½-inch borders.

• First Fold: Fold the bottom edge fully over the filling, pressing lightly to seal.

• Egg Wash & Second Fold: Brush the top of the bottom-folded pastry with egg wash. Fold the top edge over the filling (creating a "letter" shape), aligning edges.

• Seal & Transfer: Flip the folded pastry so the seam faces down. Crimp the short edges with a fork to seal. Transfer to the baking sheet, spacing 2 inches apart.

6. Final Prep Before Baking

• Brush each quesito with egg wash (entire surface).

• Sprinkle ½ teaspoon sugar on top for a glossy, golden finish.

7. Bake & Rest

• Bake on upper/lower racks, switching positions halfway (30–35 minutes).

• Cool on the sheet for 5 minutes to let filling set.

💡 Pro Tips (From Recipe Tester Feedback)

• Puff Pastry Handling: Thaw slowly in the fridge (12–24 hours) or fast-thaw (1–2 hours). Keep chilled during prep.

• No Piping Bag? Spoon filling onto squares, then fold (messier but doable).

• Trader Joe’s Adjustment: If using 8×8-inch sheets, roll to 14×10 inches, cut into 4×4-inch squares, and reduce filling by ½.

• Letter Folding: Ensures even filling distribution and clean edges. Practice on scrap pastry first!

🍽️ Serving Suggestions

Enjoy warm or at room temperature with coffee/tea. For extra flair, dust with powdered sugar or serve with a drizzle of caramel sauce.

🌟 Reader Reviews

• "Video demonstration of folding would help! The letter-fold method was unclear at first."

• "Made these for my Puerto Rican husband—he said they’re 'authentic to my abuela’s recipe'!"

• "Worked perfectly with 2 sheets of 8×8-inch puff pastry; reduced filling by 1 tbsp per batch."

Note: Puff pastry may vary by brand—adjust cutting dimensions if sheets are smaller/larger.