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A delicious slice of layered Hawaiian guava cake featuring a glossy pink glaze, white cream, and vibrant pink cake layers.
Maryam

Hawaiian Guava Cake

Brighten any day with this irresistibly moist and tropical Hawaiian guava cake, topped with a luscious guava cream cheese glaze!
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Cake, Dessert
Cuisine: American, Hawaiian
Calories: 460

Ingredients
  

For the Cake
  • 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1.5 cups granulated sugar
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 3 large eggs room temperature
  • 0.75 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 cup guava nectar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
For the Guava Cream Cheese Glaze
  • 4 oz cream cheese softened
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter softened
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 3-4 tbsp guava nectar start with 3, add more if needed

Equipment

  • 9x13-inch Baking Pan
  • Large mixing bowls
  • Electric Mixer
  • Wire Rack

Method
 

Prepare for Baking
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease and flour a 9x13 inch baking pan, tapping out any excess flour.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt. Make sure there are no lumps in your dry mixture.
  3. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the room temperature large eggs, vegetable oil, 1 cup of guava nectar, and vanilla extract until everything is smoothly combined.
  4. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir with a spatula or spoon until just combined and smooth, taking care not to overmix. A few small lumps in the batter are perfectly fine!
  5. Pour the cake batter evenly into your prepared baking pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. You want that perfect golden-brown top!
  6. Let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack for at least 15-20 minutes. It should still be warm, but not piping hot, before you glaze it.
  7. While the cake is cooling, prepare your glaze! In a medium bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the softened cream cheese and unsalted butter until the mixture is light and fluffy. Gradually add the powdered sugar, mixing until it's smooth.
  8. Slowly pour in 3 tablespoons of guava nectar and beat until the glaze is smooth and easily spreadable. If you prefer a thinner glaze, add the remaining tablespoon of nectar, one teaspoon at a time, until you reach your desired consistency. Spread the guava cream cheese glaze evenly over the top of the still-warm (but not hot) cake. Let the glaze set slightly before slicing and serving this tropical treat!

Notes

If you can't find guava nectar, you can often substitute with a 1:1 blend of guava juice and simple syrup, or even thin guava jam with a little water or juice.
For an extra touch, garnish your cooled and glazed cake with fresh tropical fruits like thinly sliced mango or pineapple, or a sprinkle of toasted coconut flakes.
This cake can be baked a day ahead; just store it unfrosted in an airtight container at room temperature, then whip up the glaze and frost it closer to serving time for maximum freshness.