Masa Real de Guayaba

Guava is a popular filling for sweet tarts and turnovers in Cuba. Most bakeries and coffee stands sell masa real de guayaba, in which slices of guava paste are sandwiched between 2 layers of egg-rich dough in a shallow rectangular baking dish. The tart is cut into squares like double-crusted bar cookies that are convenient to sell individually.

Cheese—either a sharp variety like manchego or Cheddar, or cream cheese—often accompanies guava desserts. The unusual