Guava Jam Coffee Cake is just what you need to make when you're craving something sweet. A fluffy and soft coffee cake with a surprise layer of exotic guava jam and topped with an irresistible brown sugar streusel topping! Perfect for an afternoon coffee break!
I really think you'll love this recipe for guava cake! I'll tell you how I came about it. It all started out with a recipe for guava jam...
The other day I came across some gorgeous and very ripe guavas. The other day was really more like a month ago. My daughter enjoys reminding me how I often refer to any thing that happened in the not so distant past as, “the other day”.
Originally published January 2012 and updated photos April 2022.
She then proceeds to remind me how it actually was “x” amount of days, or weeks, or even months ago. It diminishes the freshness of my story, and I feel silly for her outing me in front of my friends.
So bear with me here while I finish my story. It really wasn’t the other day but it sure seems like not too long ago at my favorite little Latino fruit market, there was a package of guavas for $1.
Yessireee…a whole dollar. I immediately knew I would make a little jam. I never made guava jam and let me tell you, it’s very sticky and CRAZY good.
Living with Cuban bakeries on every corner, I get to sometimes indulge in guava pastries. My mom kept telling me, “Make some guava pastries! That is the perfect idea for the jam.” But you see, there wasn’t that much in my little batch.
I stumbled on this Martha Stewart Meyer Lemon Coffee Cake and had been dreaming of it for days. An important step in the recipe requires boiling and draining the Meyer lemon slices. There’s also a step of lining them on parchment paper.
My baking a cake on the fly wasn’t going to work with this recipe. I also recently had come across Meagan from Scarletta Bakes fantastic Prickly Pear Coffee Cake (Scarletta has since stopped blogging and I can't link to her cake),and I envisioned my homemade guava jam swirled in a coffee bake batter. I immediately got to baking and the result was pretty darn good.
It’s pretty easy to come across guava jams and pastes over here. I suggest subbing strawberry jam if getting guava jam isn’t an option for you. You could also use any jam that makes you happy.:)
And I guarantee this cake will make you happy. I tested a slice right before getting the kids from school. LOVED it. The kids had a slice as a snack when they got home.
Then the neighbors came by for a visit and my son cut and served a slice for them all by himself (sliced it with a butter knife and kept bringing out more as soon as they finished their slice).
They loved it and it looks like I'll be searching for more guavas next week to make another one of these yummy cakes.
How do you make a guava jam coffee cake? (full recipe below)
The first step I did was make my own guava jam, but you could use store bought. IF you happen to have some patience, make your own jam (it's delicious!).
Before you start the cake batter, make the quick streusel and set it aside.
Once the streusel is done, get the cake batter going.
Spoon the cake batter into the prepped cake pan (I prepped my pan with baking spray).
Spoon on some of the guava jam (try not to touch the edges of the pan, or it will stick while baking, and will be difficult to remove the cake).
Use a butter knife to gently swirl the batter to combine it a little with the jam (this is a my original 2012 photo and I had baked it in a square pan...I just wanted you to see how I swirled it).
Sprinkle on the streusel topping and bake!
How to make the guava jam swirl?
Most important is to not touch the edge of the cake batter. Try to leave a 1/2-inch space. I have even made the cake without swirling the jam, and it ends up creating it's own design while baking. So swirl or not, it will be beautiful!
inspired by Scarletta Bakes and adapted from Martha Stewart
Some other cake recipes to enjoy:
Just a quick request: if you enjoyed the guava jam coffee cake as much as we did, would you kindly leave me a 5-star rating and a short (or long!)comment–the ratings are what helps get my recipes and hard work discovered, so I can keep leaving you more delish recipes!
Your comments mean the world to me….and I really SMILE when I read them. Thank you so much! XX
Guava Jam Coffee Cake
Ingredients
- For the Streusel
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup packed light-brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon coarse salt
- 6 ounces 3/4 cup cold unsalted butter
- For the Cake
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 ½ teaspoons coarse salt
- 4 ounces 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pan or margarine, if dairy-free
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons finely grated Meyer lemon zest from 4 to 5 lemons (any fruit zest will work fine)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup buttermilk for diary-free: I made it with almond milk mixed with 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup guava jam or whichever jam you prefer
Instructions
- Make the streusel: Mix together flour, brown sugar, and salt. Using a pastry cutter or your fingers, cut butter into the flour mixture until small to medium clumps form. Cover, and refrigerate until ready to use (up to 3 days).
- Heat oven and prep cake pan: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9" springform pan or a 9″ x 13″ baking pan with parchment paper and spray with baking spray (or prep with butter and flour) and set aside.
- Sift dry ingredients: Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Beat butter: Beat butter, granulated sugar, and lemon zest with a mixer on medium speed in a large bowl until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- Add the eggs: With the mixer running, add eggs, 1 at a time, then the vanilla. Reduce speed to low.
- Add in flour mixture: Add the flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with buttermilk.
- Spoon batter into pan: Spoon the batter evenly into cake pan.
- Spoon on the jam: Spoon the jam in a few sections over the batter.
- Swirl: With a butter knife, swirl the jam around gently.
- Add on the streusel topping: Sprinkle the chilled streusel evenly over the batter
- Bake the cake: Bake until cake is golden brown and a tester inserted in the center comes out clean, about (If using 9x13-inch pan it would be 30-35 minutes. If using 9-inch springform pan, about 50-55 minutes).
- Cool down cake: Transfer pan to a wire rack set over a baking sheet, and let cool in pan for 15 minutes. Remove spring form (if you did round cake pan). Slice and enjoy!
Nutrition Disclaimer
Please keep in mind that the nutritional information presented below is an approximation and may vary depending on the exact ingredients used.
A Thought For Food says
Fascinating... you know, I'm not a huge guava person, but this I'd be up for trying
Lucy Ledbetter says
When swirling the guava jam, should I be swirling it into the cake batter or on top of the cake batter?
Thank you so much!
Lora says
Hi Lucy-I included some photos so you can see how I swirled it into the cake batter gently. Take a look at the blog post to see the photos. Then the streusel gets sprinkled on top of that. Hope that helps!!
KonstantKraver says
I would never have thought to use ripe guavas in a cake...nice work 🙂
Valerie @ From Valerie's Kitchen says
Mmm, I need this with my afternoon Starbucks. Love it!
raquel@erecipe says
wow I think I could also use other kind of jam =)
Anonymous says
Wow - this sounds crazy good! This is really delicious! As always, your photos are beautiful!
Maureen says
I have no guava jam but I'm definitely making this coffee cake. Looks delicious.
ophelia1983 says
i like this coffe cake!
Kiri W. says
I loved the prickly pear cake, and this looks fantastic, as well. Love the color of your guava jam, I bet I would adore a slice of this 🙂
Megan's Cookin' says
Love the picture of the jam swirled in. Bet this was heavenly!
Shulie says
Love this Miss Lora. I never cooked with guavas, I always gave it raw with a sprinkle of salt. Oh and in Israel we got guava yogurt, now is the US too. Oh and I forgot guava drinks but never cooked or baked with it. I love the parallel to prickly pear, it makes sense!! You know I would love it along my tea exactly at 4pm today! 🙂
Lauren at Keep It Sweet says
I've never used guava in baking before but this looks wonderful!
Jill | Dulce Dough says
This sounds like such a wonderful cake, Lora! What a great base recipe to adapt as desired with different kinds of jams. But that guava jam sounds so yummy!
Viviane Bauquet Farre - Food and Style says
Oh my... I grew up making guava jam with my grandmother every summer. This cake is reminding me of these precious days. Beautiful recipe and photos! I want a slice 🙂
Cher says
Coffee cake isn't usually my thing, but the addition of the guava jam definitely makes this one to try. Love it!
Kristina says
guavas are one of my favorites, reminding me of my summers in Hawaii growing up. I always get the guava pastry when I can!
I am bookmarking this to try... sounds perfect!
Julia says
I loooooove guava!!!! I love flying to hawaii b/c they give you POG (passion orange guava) juice, mmmm, I could live on that stuff.
Samantha @ Ferraro Kitchen says
I LOVE guava!! I used to live in hawaii and sometimes my mom still sends me guavas and lilikoi! Its so hard to find it in Cali though...guava jam, sometimes..but no guavas! Now I need mom to send me a box of fruit so I can make this. I cant believe you found it for $1! thats awesome!
Krissy's Creations says
Guava is REALLY good for you! So excited to see this delicious recipe. Gotta make it 🙂
Sandra says
I am amazed..this jam sound and look incredible..and whole $ wow..talk about bargain! Cake is also very very delicious looking..I can imagine the taste..yummy! Well done sweetie!
Reeni says
Goya makes a guava jam that we love - that's why I know yours must be insanely good! Homemade is always better. Pairing it with this coffee cake is downright dreamy Lora! xoxo
Amalia says
Woah, this looks crazy good! You're a genius for making guava jam, it looks awesome! The color is gorgeous and the end cake result looks super moist and delicious, perfect 🙂
Maris (In GoodTaste) says
The photo alone has made me yearn for this coffee cake and then when I started reading, I am hooked!
Karriann says
Yummy I'd love some please! 🙂
“Happy Cooking”
Paula says
I honestly would not know a guava if it rolled off the fruit cart and landed at my feet! We don't see these in regularly in my grocery store. I wish we did, that coffe cake looks wonderful.
Jean (Lemons and Anchovies) says
First I have to comment that your conversation with your daughter sounds just like those I have with my husband. I take your daughter's role and my husband, yours. He describes everything as happening "the other day". 🙂
I'm so jealous that you found fresh guavas. The only time I ever get to enjoy them is in the form of store-bought guava juice during vacation. I would love to get my hands on fresh ones and yes, the first thing I would love to try is to make jam out of them. Love that you combined it with coffee cake.
Mari says
I am a guava fan myself. I am lucky to have a guava tree in front of my house and so I make this jam always, but I have never though of making a coffee cake with it. I am sure it will become a favorite at home.
Have a great weekend 🙂
Terra says
Look how moist and delicious that beautiful cake looks!! Love the idea of guava jam in my coffee cake, guava is pretty fantastic! Beautiful! Hugs, Terra
Lizzy says
Oh, your coffee cake looks so moist and delicious! I'm not sure if I like guavas or not, but I'd be happy to find out via this beautiful gem....mmmmmmm.
Alaiyo Kiasi says
What an amazing idea and, like Lizzy says, it look moist and delicious. Isn't it fun to come across an ingredient and then dream of ways to use it in a recipe? Kudos!
Baking Serendipity says
I love the picture with the jam swirls 🙂 This looks delicious! I've somehow never tried guava jam before. I think I need it on toast and then in this coffee cake this week!
Maggie says
Wow. Guava jam?? I am truly jealous. I love jam sooo much and guava jam sounds like a true delicacy. And mixed in with coffee cake? Heavenly. Beautiful photos too!
Jamie says
You know that this is the kind of cake we love having around the house and what JP begs for me to make for breakfast! You tease me so! And you know, I don't think I've ever tasted guava!
Nancy says
I have never cooked with guavas and this sounds like the best way to become introduced!! Can't wait to try it!
claire @ the realistic nutritionist says
Oh this looks absolutely delicious!!
Anonymous says
Delightful ... this is such a lovely coffee cake, perfect for any afternoon tea 🙂
Culinary Collage says
This looks so moist and really tasty.....yum!
Yuri - Chef Pandita says
I love guavas! What a nice looking cake 😀 xoxo
Michelle at www.sweetandsimple.com says
Guava and coffee cake? What a great combo... match made in heaven.
Xean says
wow! this is simply amazing dear, and I agree with michelle that it's a great combo. I think it would be great also to be paired with the best coffee = perfect day!