Guava Cheesecake (Printable)

Luscious creamy cheesecake with tangy guava swirl on crisp Maria cookie crust, offering tropical elegance to your dessert table.

# What You'll Need:

→ Crust

01 - 7 oz Maria cookies or digestive biscuits, crushed into fine crumbs
02 - 5.6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
03 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

→ Cheesecake Filling

04 - 21 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature
05 - 7 oz granulated sugar
06 - 6.8 fluid ounces sour cream
07 - 3 large eggs
08 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
09 - Zest of 1 lime, optional

→ Guava Swirl

10 - 7 oz guava marmalade or paste
11 - 2 tablespoons water for thinning, if needed

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 320°F. Line a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper and lightly grease the sides.
02 - Crush Maria cookies into fine crumbs using a food processor. Mix crumbs with melted butter and 2 tablespoons sugar until evenly moistened.
03 - Press the crumb mixture firmly into the base of the prepared pan. Bake for 10 minutes, then remove and allow to cool slightly.
04 - In a large bowl, beat softened cream cheese and sugar together until smooth and creamy. Add sour cream and mix until well combined.
05 - Add eggs one at a time, beating gently just until combined after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract and lime zest if using.
06 - Pour the cream cheese filling over the cooled crust and smooth the top with a spatula.
07 - In a small saucepan, gently heat the guava marmalade with 2 tablespoons water until loosened and pourable. If using paste, mash and stir until smooth.
08 - Drop spoonfuls of guava marmalade over the cheesecake batter. Use a knife or skewer to gently swirl the guava into the filling to create a marbled pattern.
09 - Bake for 50 to 55 minutes until the edges are set but the center still jiggles slightly when gently shaken.
10 - Turn off the oven and crack the door open slightly. Allow the cheesecake to cool in the oven for 1 hour to prevent surface cracking.
11 - Remove from oven and transfer to refrigerator. Chill for at least 3 hours or overnight before removing from the pan and slicing.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The tropical guava cuts through the richness of cream cheese in a way that makes every bite feel lighter and more interesting than a plain cheesecake.
  • It looks absolutely stunning when sliced, with those jewel-toned swirls running through the creamy filling—people always ask for the recipe.
  • Maria cookies create a more delicate, refined crust than what you'd typically expect, giving this dessert a sophisticated edge.
02 -
  • Room temperature ingredients are genuinely not optional here—cold cream cheese will seize up and create an unpleasant texture no matter how much you beat it.
  • The center should jiggle slightly when you pull it from the oven; it will continue to cook as it cools, and that residual heat is what gives you a creamy interior instead of a rubbery one.
03 -
  • If cracks do appear on top after cooling, you can hide them beautifully with a light dusting of powdered sugar or a few fresh guava slices arranged on top.
  • The lime zest is optional, but it genuinely transforms the cheesecake by adding a subtle brightness that makes you crave another bite rather than feeling satisfied.
Go Back