Guava Paste Recipe (Colombian Bocadillo)

One of the most popular sweets in Colombia is a candy made of guava paste, called bocadillo. The sweet guava paste is shaped into firm, small blocks and wrapped in dried palm leaves. Using this recipe you can easily make a delicious homemade version that everyone will love.

Haz clic en Bocadillo de Guayaba Colombiano para la receta en español.

What is Colombian Bocadillo (Guava Paste)?

Bocadillo, (or bocadillo veleño) is a popular type of candy consisting of the paste of the tropical fruit guava (guayaba in Spanish). In other Latin American countries, it goes by the name dulce or conserva de guayaba. The main ingredients are ripe guavas, sugar, water, and some orange juice. They are shaped into soft but firm small blocks and are wrapped in little dry palm leaves.

Ingredients

Guava select ripe guavas to make the most flavorful guava paste.

White sugar the recipe requires plenty of white sugar as well. Maybe not too healthy, but it is candy after all.

Orange juice the juice of citrus fruit is necessary to make the pulp into a firmer paste. You can replace it by using lime juice.

How to make guava paste (bocadillo)

1.Boil the guavas in water for 20 minutes

2. Place guava with water in a blender/food processor and blend for a couple of seconds until smooth

3. Using a sieve over a pot, strain out the seeds. You might need to use a spoon to press the pulp through the sieve. Add sugar and orange juice

4. Mix well and place on medium to high heat. Stir regularly (max. every 2 -3 minutes). The pulp will be pink at the beginning

5. Keep stirring the guava pulp that is getting thicker and thicker. After 30 minutes it will have a red-orange color

6. After 60 minutes the color will be reddish pink. The consistency will be thick and sticky, so you can see the bottom of the pot after stirring. Pour the mixture into a (silicone) baking tin. Sprinkle with sugar. Let cool to room temperature and place afterward in the refrigerator overnight. Cut into blocks

What can you do with guava paste?

The uses of guava paste are endless! You can eat bocadillo:

• Just as it is, as candy
• Combined with a piece of fresh, white cheese like queso campesino or doble crema (see below)
• As a filling in pandebonos (Colombian Yuca Cheese Bread)
• As a filling in other bread and baked goods, like roscon, or in pan blandito
• Stuffed with cheese in a ripe plantain
• In a Colombian grilled cheese sandwich

Basically, Colombians love bocadillo in sweet ánd savory dishes, and especially paired with cheese.

Guava paste and cheese

This combination deserves its own paragraph. The most popular way of eating bocadillo in Colombia, is with a piece of fresh, white cheese. This is called queso con bocadillo and the combination is heavenly because the slightly salty cheese balances out the extreme sweetness of the guava paste. In Colombia, you can use queso campesino or doble crema, which are fresh but firm white cheese sold in blocks. Outside of Colombia, you could use queso fresco or mozzarella.

Cut a piece of guava paste, cut a piece of cheese in a similar size, stack the cheese on top and enjoy!

You might also like

Colombian Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Guava Jam

Vegan Guava Candy Muffins

Cholado (Colombian Icy Fruit Cocktail)

Colombian Vegan Fruity Merengón

Do you love this recipe? Give it a 5-star rating below and leave me a comment! Or tag @vecinavegetariana on Instagram. You can also pin this recipe now and make it later!

Guava Paste Recipe (Colombian Bocadillo)

Bocadillo is a popular Colombian type of candy consisting of the paste of the tropical fruit guava (guayaba in Spanish). The sweet guava paste is shaped into firm, small blocks. You can eat guava paste as candy, with cheese, or as a filling in bread and pastries.

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Course Dessert, Snack

Cuisine Colombian

Servings 24 pieces aprox.

Equipment

• food processor/blender
• small boiling pot
• sieve/strainer
• (silicone) baking tin ( I use 29,5 x 15 x 6,5 cm)

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 600 g ripe guavas (aprox. 4 medium-sized guavas)
• 500 ml of water (2,5 cups)
• 450 g white sugar (2 1/4 cups)
• juice of 1 orange
• sugar, to sprinkle

Instructions

 

• Boil guavas

  Place whole guavas in a small boiling pot with water. They won't be covered completely. Add lid and boil guavas for 20 minutes. The skin will burst open
• Blend guavas

  Place the guavas and cooking liquid/water in a food processor and blend until smooth
• Strain guava mixture

  Place a sieve over a boiling pot and strain out the seeds. You might have to use a spoon to press the pulp through the strainer. Discard the seeds
• Add sugar, orange juice and cook for 1 hour

  Add sugar and orange juice to the guava mixture. Mix with a wooden spoon. Bring to a boil and let boil softly for 1 hour. Stir regularly (every 2-3 minutes) to prevent the paste from sticking to the pot and to assure it cooks evenly.

  The mixture will have a pink color at the beginning, a red-to-orange color halfway, and a red-to-pink color at the end.

  The consistency will change from liquid to thick and sticky, and being able to see the bottom of the pot when stirring.
• Place in tin and let set

  Place the guava paste in a (silicone) baking tin (about 30 x 6 cm; a cake tin).

  Sprinkle with sugar. Let cool to room temperature. Cover with foil and place in the refrigerator to set overnight/ a couple of hours.

  Cut in blocks. Serve as candy or with a piece of cheese. Enjoy!

Keyword colombian bocadillo, guava candy, guava paste, guava with cheese

Do you love this recipe?Give it a 5-star rating and leave me a comment! Or tag @vecinavegetariana on Instagram. You can also pin this recipe now and make it later!