Tropical Hawaiian Guava Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Tropical Hawaiian Guava Cake is the sweet, fruity treat you need. Life gets busy. This cake brings a little island joy to your kitchen. After making this many times, I learned the trick to perfect texture. Creamy, moist, and sweet. Try my Crispy Mediterranean Spinach and Feta Phyllo Bites next. Jump to Recipe If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Crispy Mediterranean Spinach and Feta Phyllo Bites and Easy BLT Pasta Salad Recipe with Creamy Dressing.
Why This Tropical Hawaiian Guava Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting Is Pure Comfort
- Sweet and tangy flavor
- Creamy frosting balances the fruit
- Perfect for parties or gatherings
- Easy to make at home
What You'll Need for Tropical Hawaiian Guava Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup guava paste
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 cups cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- Optional: Fresh guava slices
- Optional: Coconut flakes
- Optional: Sprinkles
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Guava paste: Use a high-quality paste for best flavor.
- Butter: Use softened butter for smooth mixing.
- Milk: Whole milk gives the best texture.
- Cream cheese: Use room temperature cream cheese for easy blending.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Stand Mixer — Mixes batter smoothly without lumps. → See on Amazon
- Offset Spatula — Helps spread frosting evenly. → See on Amazon
How to Make Tropical Hawaiian Guava Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Prep: Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans.
- Mix Dry: In a bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon.
- Blend: In a separate bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add guava paste, vanilla, and milk. Mix until smooth.
- Combine: Stir dry ingredients into wet. Pour into pans and bake for 25–30 minutes.
- Frost: In a bowl, mix cream cheese and powdered sugar. Spread on cooled cake.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Tropical Hawaiian Guava Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Best technique: Use room temperature cream cheese for smooth frosting.
- Common mistake and fix: Overmixing the batter can make the cake dense. Stop when just combined.
- Storage: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- Customization: Add a splash of orange zest for extra flavor.
Storing & Reheating Tropical Hawaiian Guava Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Make-ahead tip: Make 1 day ahead. Store in airtight container.
Freezing Tropical Hawaiian Guava Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in fridge.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat at 350°F for 5 minutes. Microwave: Microwave for 20 seconds.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: Let the cake cool completely before frosting to avoid melting the cream cheese.
- Best substitution: Use apricot jam if guava paste is unavailable.
- Make-ahead: Make the cake 1 day ahead and frost just before serving.
- Scaling: Double the recipe for a larger cake.
- Troubleshooting: If the cake is too dry, brush with a little water before frosting.
Want to level up this recipe?
Cake Pans — Ensure even baking and easy release. → Check price on Amazon
Tropical Hawaiian Guava Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup guava paste
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup milk
Seasonings
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 cups cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
Optional Toppings
- Fresh guava slices
- Coconut flakes
- Sprinkles
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans.
- Mix Dry: In a bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon.
- Blend: In a separate bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add guava paste, vanilla, and milk. Mix until smooth.
- Combine: Stir dry ingredients into wet. Pour into pans and bake for 25–30 minutes.
- Frost: In a bowl, mix cream cheese and powdered sugar. Spread on cooled cake.
Notes
- Chef tip: Let the cake cool completely before frosting to avoid melting the cream cheese.
- Best substitution: Use apricot jam if guava paste is unavailable.
- Make-ahead: Make the cake 1 day ahead and frost just before serving.
- Scaling: Double the recipe for a larger cake.
- Troubleshooting: If the cake is too dry, brush with a little water before frosting.
Storage
- Fridge: Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Freezer: Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in fridge.
- Oven reheat: Reheat at 350°F for 5 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Microwave for 20 seconds.
- Make ahead: Make 1 day ahead. Store in airtight container.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 450
- Protein: 6g
- Fat: 20g
- Carbs: 55g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 30g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Cholesterol: 70mg
- Sat. Fat: 12g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Tropical Hawaiian Guava Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting FAQs
Yes, make it 1 day ahead. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
Overmixing or not enough moisture in the batter can cause dryness. Add a little more milk if needed.
Yes, freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge before serving.
Apricot jam works well. Use the same amount as guava paste.
No, this recipe is best made in the oven. Air fryers don’t provide even heat for cake baking.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Tropical Hawaiian Guava Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
