Hawaiian Guava Cake

4.96 from 121 votes
182 Comments

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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!

Fresh sliced guava next to a plate with a slice of Hawaiian guava cake.
Featured With This Recipe
  1. What is Hawaiian Guava Cake
  2. Guava Nectar vs. Juice
  3. Substitutions and Additions
  4. Tips for Making this Guava Hawaiian Cake
  5. How to Store Guava Cake
  6. Looking for More Tasty Hawaiian Cakes?
  7. Frequently Asked Questions
  8. How to Make Guava Cake
  9. Hawaiian Guava Cake Recipe

Whether you’re craving a taste of the islands or simply want a unique dessert to enjoy, this Guava Cake will won’t disappoint. It’s a sweet, Hawaiian cake that’s perfect for any occasion, and it’s easy to make at home! You just can’t beat the flavors and textures of the spongy cake layered with creamy frosting and sweet guava glaze.

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!

Ingredients to make Hawaiian guava cake.


Guava 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 okay, 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 to get that nice pink color.
  • 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!
  • Make it a poke cake by poking holes in the top of the cake with the back of a wooden spoon before frosting and pouring prepared strawberry Jell-O over the top of the cake. Follow our Poke Cake recipe instructions for more details on how to do this.

Tips for Making this Guava Hawaiian Cake

  • Balance Sweetness: Guavas can vary in sweetness, so taste your guava puree or juice and adjust the sugar accordingly in your cake and frosting. You want the cake to be sweet but not overly so.
  • Check for Doneness: Test the cakes for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center. It should come out clean or with just a few moist crumbs when the cakes are done.
  • Room Temperature Ingredients: For the cream cheese frosting layer, be sure to use room temp ingredients to make the frosting nice and smooth.
  • Cool Before Frosting: Allow the cake to cool completely before frosting. If you frost while warm, the frosting layers may melt and not set right.
  • Garnish Creatively: Consider decorating your guava cake with additional tropical elements like fresh guava slices, shredded coconut, or even a drizzle of passion fruit sauce.

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.

Fork slicing into a piece of pink Hawaiian guava cake with multiple slices behind.

Looking for More Tasty Hawaiian Cakes?

Love this Hawaiian guava cake? Try some of these other cakes inspired by the tropical flavors of the islands!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is guava cake made of?

Guava cake is made from a strawberry cake mix and has a layer of creamy frosting and a delicious guava glaze.

Is guava nectar the same as guava concentrate?

Guava nectar is a sweet and refreshing fruit juice used for beverages and mixed drinks. Guava concentrate, on the other hand, is a thicker, more potent form of guava flavor used in cooking, baking, and as a concentrated ingredient for adding guava essence to various dishes and recipes.

What does guava taste like?

Guava has a distinct flavor profile that’s sweet and slightly tangy, often described as a tropical-citrus blend with notes of pear, strawberry, and a subtle hint of lemon. The taste can vary depending on its ripeness, with fully ripe guavas being even sweeter and more aromatic.

How to Make Guava Cake

Fresh sliced guava next to a plate with a slice of Hawaiian guava cake.

Hawaiian Guava Cake

4.96 from 121 votes
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!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine Hawaiian
Servings 12

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:

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. 
    Bowl of prepared strawberry cake mix to make Hawaiian guava cake.
  • 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. 
    Bowl of whipped filling for Hawaiian Guava Cake
  • 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.
    Drizzle of the glaze for Hawaiian Guava Cake
  • 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.
    Spatula spreading whipped filling on prepared cake to make Hawaiian guava cake.
  • Glaze the top of the cake with guava gel. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
    Full 9x13 dish of Hawaiian guava cake with the finished pink glaze on top.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 416kcalCarbohydrates: 62gProtein: 4gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 65mgSodium: 338mgPotassium: 88mgFiber: 1gSugar: 44gVitamin A: 371IUVitamin C: 14mgCalcium: 120mgIron: 1mg

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About the author

Erica Walker

Erica lives in Boise, Idaho with her husband, Jared, an attorney, and her three beautiful girls. Beyond the world of recipes, she loves adventuring with everything from kayaking, to cruising, to snowboarding and taking the family along for the thrill ride.

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Been born and raised in Hawai’i this guava cake is to die for and my favorite. I live in Austin Texas and work at The Cheesecake Factory Austin. I made this guava cake and also lilikoi passion fruit cake and my coworkers and manager’s love it, especially the guava. Made it twice and got a request for a birthday cake for one of my managers birthday in March 2024. Mahalo for sharing your recipe. And growing up Dee Lite bakery was where my parents went to get pastries.

  2. 5 stars
    I forgot to mention, there were 19 entries. I’m sorry I didn’t read comments before I commented. I followed your recipe. I used Jumex Guava Nectar from concentrate. I made it in my 13 x 9 pan and cut into 24 slices. I topped each slice with half a strawberry, fanned out. It was pretty and delicious!

  3. 5 stars
    I went to our annual Family Labor Day Weekend party on Saturday. Each year they have a dessert Bake-off . The theme was A Hawaiian Luauz. I won two years earlier, and didn’t go last year. I was out to win that traveling golden whisk trophy again. With your recipe, I won 1st Place!! Unfortunately, the person who won last year didn’t return the whisk, and the hosts didn’t have time to make another one. But hey, a gift card for gas works great too. Thanks so much for this recipe. It was delicious! I fanned out half of a strawberry on each slice. I’d post a picture of I could. Next year’s theme is REDNECK. I have something in mind, but I have lots of time.

  4. Question: You don’t differentiate between confectioner sugar and granulated sugar for the cream cheese and cool whip “frosting”. Sugar link leads to granulated in Amazon. Is it supposed to be granulated sugar?

  5. 5 stars
    Really simple to follow recipe and the cake was delicious. I used less sugar in the guava gel and it was perfect. The frosting is nice and light with the cool whip and the cake is not too dense. Definitely would make again and the serving size of 12 makes large cake pieces.

  6. 5 stars
    Delicious and so many compliments! The cake isn’t super light like traditional guava chiffon but it is wonderful. I used strawberry cake mix and kern’s guava juice. I think any guava juice will work. I’ve always wanted to make guava cake and this is now my go to recipe!

  7. Took this to a family reunion and got lots of compliments on it. One person asked for the “watermelon” cake recipe .. I guess it does have a kind of watermelon ish flavor and look to it if you don’t know that it is guava. It was very good… i didn’t think the guava flavor would be very strong but it was perfect. I did make a few adjustments because I made it in a jelly roll pan. I always like to add sour cream to cake mixes to give it a more ” homemade” taste and texture. I also added one more egg and a little bit more flour. But I will try the recipe as written next time and I’m sure it will be just as good.

  8. 5 stars
    This is such a delicious cake. Easy recipe to follow. Only change I made was I added strawberries on top. The entire family loves it and asked for it again.

  9. 5 stars
    So far so good. Making cake for the first time.
    Does cream cheese frosting have to be chilled on the cake before adding the glaze?
    Does glaze have to cool before layering on cake?
    Making cake day before – do I cover w foil?

    1. Yes everything needs to be cooled before adding to the cake. You can cover it with foil or plastic wrap!

  10. 5 stars
    I live in a small town in idaho and had ate this cake when i stayed on Oahu for a year when i was young. I found your recipe and made it for my family. I could only get frozen concentrate but wow it really turned out perfect and delicious. Followed recipe to a T and its my families new favorite cake. Thank you so so much. Brought back great memories. Im making another right now. Everything is cooling as im writing this. Thank you again.

  11. 5 stars
    I was wondering.. if I wanted to use the frozen guava purée instead of the juice/nectar in this recipe, do you think the amounts would be the same or would they need to be modified since it’s thicker? I was hoping to use purée in both the cake and glaze. Thanks!

    1. I haven’t used the frozen puree so I can’t say. Let us know how it turns out if you do make it!

    2. I amke this cake at least 2-3x a year. All 3 of my kids request it for their birthdays I always use Hawaii’s Own frozen concentrate. I only add enough water to make the 3 & 1/3 cup needed for the recipe. Always turns out great. I did use guava puree from WanaBana off Amazon 1x because I was in a rural area and couldn’t find guava anything. It turned out a bit dry, but still tasted good.

  12. 5 stars
    My husband grew up in Hawaii and at his request he asked me to make guava cake. I never had it before. I made this recipe and my husband stated after he ate the cake “Ono”. Translated “delicious”. I will make this again, it was very good.
    I used coconut oil instead of vegetable oil.

    Just for clarity, follow the recipe on this website as it is for making the cake, NOT the cake box recipe, don’t even follow the cake box recipe. I believe several post were confusing about this. Enjoy!

    1. Question can I make each component (cake, gel, cream cheese frosting) ahead, refrigerate and then put together day of? Also any thing I should consider for making this recipe into cupcakes vs a cake? I plan on coring the center filling with the gel & piping the cream cheese frosting leaving also gel visible in center.

  13. 5 stars
    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!!!

  14. 5 stars
    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.

  15. 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!

    1. 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!

      1. 5 stars
        My friend mentioned he worked in a bakery in his school that was owned by his grandparents and that that he missed their guava cake. His grandma has been gone for 10 years now and I made this today for his birthday. He said the frosting and glaze were perfect! Thank you for making this so doable, it meant a lot.

        1. First of all, that is so thoughtful that you would make a cake for your friend with all that in mind! I am happy to hear that this cake brought back good memories for him. This comment made my day 🙂 Thank you for coming back to share this with us!

      2. 5 stars
        For cupcakes you can take out the center and put some of the glaze inside. Cover the top with a cream cheese frosting.

  16. 4 stars
    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)?

    1. Only include what is listed in our recipe. Do not use the ingredients or measurements listed on the cake box.

  17. 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!

    1. 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 😀