Guava Cake is a tasty, traditional Hawaiian dessert. It is a guava flavored cake with a whipped cream cheese layer and guava gel glaze. Easy and delicious!
Hawaiian Guava Cake
Guava cake is a dessert that is often served at restaurants throughout Hawaii. When I worked at the bakery in Hawaii we would often make this for catered events. It was always a huge it. In my opinion, it tastes best when it has chilled for a long time. I actually think that it tastes best after it has chilled overnight.
Nectar vs. Juice
Guava juice and guava nectar are pretty similar. You can use either one in this recipe. Nectar is a little thicker than guava juice but guava juice still works fine. I was able to find guava nectar at my local grocery store in the refrigerated juice section. If all you can find is a guava nectar blend (passion-guava, guava strawberry etc.) that is totally ok, too.
Substitutions and Additions
If you don’t have or can’t find strawberry cake mix, you can always use white or yellow cake mix instead. I like using the strawberry because it complements the guava flavor but either of those other flavors work too. You can also swap out the coconut oil for canola or vegetable oil if you would like as well. I like the faint hint of coconut that the coconut oil gives because really isn’t too overpowering and just gives it a little added flavor dimension. Finally, if you were looking to add a little more, you can add sliced strawberries to the top to make it look a little fancier. You just can’t go wrong with guava and strawberry!
Looking for more tasty Hawaiian or Island inspired desserts?
- Hawaiian Wedding Cake: Hawaiian Wedding Cake starts with a simple cake mix. Add a splash of coconut and pineapple and it becomes a refreshing cake that tastes like a piña colada.
- Coconut Cream Cake with Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting: This Coconut Cream Cake is a coconut lovers dream! It is a coconut infused cake, with a rich and creamy coconut cream cheese frosting, sprinkled with even more toasted coconut. You will be in coconut heaven with every bite.
- Caribbean Coconut Fudge Bars: These Caribbean Coconut Fudge Bars can’t be beat! A soft oatmeal cookie crust with chocolate fudge and gooey coconut topping- an instant favorite!
- Orange Pineapple Cake: Orange Pineapple cake is a light, fruity cake with an island flair. You will love the delicious whipped creamy topping! Perfect for potlucks and parties!
How To Make Hawaiian Guava Cake
Ingredients
- 1 strawberry cake mix
- 1 1/3 cups guava nectar or guava juice
- 3 eggs
- 1/3 cup coconut oil room temp (liquid)
For the Cream Cheese Layer:
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 8 ounces Cool Whip thawed
For the Guava Gel Topping:
- 2 cups guava nectar or guava juice
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 3 tablespoons water
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, mix together cake mix, guava juice, eggs, and coconut oil until well combined.
- Bake in a 9x13 glass baking dish according to cake mix package directions.
- In a medium mixing bowl, beat cream cheese with hand mixer until fluffy.
- Add sugar and vanilla and mix well.
- Slowly fold in the Cool Whip and refrigerate until ready to use.
- In a medium saucepan, bring the 2 cups guava juice and sugar to a boil.
- Make a slurry out of the cornstarch and a small amount of water.
- Remove guava juice from heat and stir in the cornstarch mixture.
- Return to heat and bring back to a boil and boil for one minute. Cool in refrigerator.
- When cake has cooled, spread cream cheese mixture evenly over cake.
- Glaze the top of the cake with guava gel. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Equipment
- 9x13 inch pan
Krishell Wolfgramm says
Can I just double everything for a sheet pan size?
Favorite Family Recipes says
I haven’t tried it that way before, and I worry that the sheet pan wouldn’t allow the cake to rise without spilling over the edge.
Lynette says
I researched for weeks and found a handful of recipes that looked worthy enough to confuse me. I wish I would have stopped when I found your recipe (it was the first).
I followed the recipe EXACTLY, I did make sure to find the Guava Nectar with the HIGHEST percentage of JUICE – which was Libby’s – it has 41%. The others had a measly 10-19%.
The cake was so ono! This was for my son’s birthday cake and now that he’s all grown up at 16 😂 the character cakes from the store no longer impress him. This certainly did!
Much gratitude and aloha! It’s been 16 months since we’ve been back to visit all of our family. Because of Covid, my 80 year old dad has been fearful of us going back home for visits…(but, still no worries about climbing up a 30 foot ladder to clean off the roof and gutters!)
Erica Walker says
Hi Lynette- I am so glad to hear you and your son enjoyed this cake! Your son has good taste, especially for a 16 yea old! 😉 I hope you can make it back to Hawaii soon. It will be so nice when all this crazy stuff has passed. Getting back to the islands will be much easier!
JoLynn Carter says
This is a really good cake. I would have liked a stronger guava flavor though.
I used canola oil instead of coconut oil, but it came out good . My family enjoyed it
Ana says
Do you add eggs in it cause i see that there is no egg in the recipe?
Favorite Family Recipes says
There are three eggs in the recipe!
Marcela says
Hi,
Is it necessary to fold the cream cheese mixture in the cool whip?
How does cool whip help the mix?
May I avoid the cool whip?
Regards
Favorite Family Recipes says
The Cool Whip makes the topping more spreadable, but you can use homemade whipped cream if you’d like!
Rochelle says
I absolutely love this cake. Was wondering if I can swap out the Guava nectar and use Passion Fruit nectar to switch it up.
Echo Blickenstaff says
Absolutely! I’m so glad you like the cake!
Beth says
If I can’t be in Hawaii I can eat like I am!! I’m excited to use the box of strawberry cake mix for something other than cupcakes for a Valentine’s Day dessert!
Shadi Hasanzadenemati says
I was looking for a recipe like this, thank you for sharing!
Gloria | @homemadeandyumm.com says
This is such a nice, tropical dessert. We went to Hawaii for our honeymoon. This brings back memories from over 40 years ago.
Noelle says
Wow this was delicious, the perfect cake! Huge hit when I made it
Tara says
Such a beautiful cake! I love those layers on top. I still haven’t made it to Hawaii, but definitely hope to soon.
Lisa Huff says
Ohhh this makes me miss Hawaii one of my favorite places!! Love how easy this cake is with the cake mix!
Crystal says
Do you pour the guava gel on immediately when it’s still hot? Or do you cool off the guava gel before pouring it onto the cake?
Favorite Family Recipes says
You cool the gel in the refrigerator first!
Ms Patti says
Make the gel first, then cake, and Cool Whip mixture last. Cool gel completely on the counter, it will pour better. Cornstarch thickened products become pretty solid in the frig, and have to be reheated to liquify or smooth out enough to pour.
Cynthia Gong says
My gel was like jello after it cooled down in the fridge, so I couldn’t spread on top. Can I skip the cooling in the fridge and cool it at room temperature? Also the cake was delicious – but it was kind of dry. What did I do wrong.? This is a yummy recipe. Thank you for sharing.
Erica Walker says
Oh no! I am sorry this didn’t work out how you had hoped. I will try to get down to the bottom of it to see what could have happened. How long did you cool the mixture for? I usually just cool it while I am doing the other steps, so not way long. Maybe 10 minutes? For the dryness… what kind of cake mix did you use?
Kendle says
What does it mean to “glaze” the cake? Do you pour all of the gel on top and just let it sit? What stops it from running off the sides? Do you spread it on with a spatula?
Favorite Family Recipes says
I pour the gel over the cake and smooth it around with a spatula. If you are using a casserole dish with high sides it shouldn’t fall off the edge. Hope this helps!
Lea says
Would this work as a 2-layer 8 or 9 inch round?
If so, would I need to chill first layer for glaze to set before putting 2nd cake on top?
Echo Blickenstaff says
We’ve never made this as a 2-layer cake. I don’t know if the glaze will hold up under the top layer of cake without spilling over to the sides. If you want to give it a try, definitely chill the glaze so it can set before adding the 2nd layer. You could make the cake in rounds and add the toppings to each round without layering. Thanks for asking!
Andrea Metlika says
This is so pretty and sounds delicious! I really like that you use a strawberry cake mix as the base.
Desiree A Levy says
I followed the directions and my cake did not rise. I used the strawberry cake mix?!
Favorite Family Recipes says
Huh…that’s so weird! Did you check the expiration date on the cake mix? Sometimes I keep mine for too long and then when I use them they don’t work as well.
Shivani says
hi! This looks delicious and I’d like to try the cake but currently do not have access to a strawberry cake mix. Could you suggest a recipe for the cake? Thanks!
Favorite Family Recipes says
You could try adding Strawberry Jello powder to a white cake mix! Or use just a white cake mix base.