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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!
What is Hawaiian Guava Cake
Guava cake is a classic Hawaiian dessert that was originally created at the famous Dee Lite Bakery in Honolulu. Its popularity grew and now there are many different versions of this guava cake recipe out there. But this one is by far my favorite! When I worked at the bakery in Hawaii we would often make this for catered events and it was always a huge hit. Plus, this recipe is so easy to make, you can have a taste of the islands at home!
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 concentrate 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 the strawberry because it complements the guava flavor but either of those flavors work too.
- To get that gorgeous pink color, add a few drops of red food coloring to the cake batter and whisk together.
- 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 it isn’t too overpowering and just gives a little added flavor dimension.
- You can also add sliced strawberries to the top for a beautiful garnish. You can’t go wrong with guava and strawberry!
How to Store Guava Cake
In my opinion, this cake tastes especially delicious after it has been refrigerated overnight, I suggest chilling the whole thing overnight in the baking pan before serving. Store any leftovers in the fridge for up to a week.
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!
Hawaiian Guava Cake
Video
Equipment
- 9×13 inch pan
- Mixing Bowls
- Sauce pan
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 9×13 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. 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.
- Glaze the top of the cake with guava gel. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Nutrition Information
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My son wanted a guava cake for his birthday. Zippy’s no longer sell guava cakes here on Maui and Home Maid Bakery is closed on Sundays. So naturally, Pintrest came to the rescue! We have guava nectar, but the best part was finding the Hawaiian Sun guava powder! I followed the instructions, but added 1/4 cup of the guava powder to the batyer, and 3 Tbsp to the guava topping. Aside from those additions, I whipped 2 egg whites and 1 regular egg. My son, along with everyone else, loved the guava cake! Mahalo nui for this delicious recipe!!!
Nov. 7, 2022
I’ve made this guava cake recipe many times and it’s always a hit even for people who don’t like sweets. Thank you for sharing the recipe.
I love this recipe but would like to use it for cupcakes. Do you have any suggestions on how I could do that? Thank you!
The cake and cream cheese layer would work great in the cupcakes, the issue will be the glaze. I’m not sure the glaze will stay on top of the cupcakes without making a mess. I think the only way to get it to work would be to only fill the cupcake liners half full. You will have less cake in the cupcakes, but then the glaze won’t spill out when you add it. Good luck! Let us know how it works!
What if you pipe the gel inside the cupcakes and the whipped frosting on top?
That’s a great idea! Please come back and let us know how it turns out!
The strawberry cake mix box calls for 1 cup water, 1/2 cup vegetable oil, and 3 eggs. Do I include the water as instructed by the box mix? Also, do I use 1/2 cup vegetable oil (like the box calls for) or 1/3 cup oil (like this recipe calls for)?
Only include what is listed in our recipe. Do not use the ingredients or measurements listed on the cake box.
Very good easy 5 stars
Did a lot of research for the perfect recipe, I needed it to be simple as well. I finally got the nerve to try this recipe and it was a hit. I also took your guava gel sauce recipe and used Liliko’i juice instead. If you’re from the islands, as I am, you know where I’m going with this. Yes, I DID! I tweaked a 3 layer cake and learned that the magic is in the juice. I used the guava frozen concentrate and I used the Welch’s Passion fruit Juice for the Liliko’i cake and sauce.
There was no need to get technical, baking should be fun and done with Aloha in your heart. Whether it be done for yourself or someone else always do it with Love!
Thank you for sharing this recipe. You gave me the confidence to conquer my cravings being so far from Hawaii.
Now I look at strawberry cake mix differently.
Mahalo!
I’m so glad you liked this recipe! And GREAT idea using Liliko’i juice, that sounds amazing! Thanks so much for your comment. I agree with everything you are saying 100%. It’s all about the Aloha 😀