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We were having a dinner party with a Latin American theme. The main course was Arroz Con Pollo. I love the Hispanic flavors. The link shared is from a previous version. I have not yet posted the dish from our dinner party. What I love about these themed dinner parties is the need to search for and execute a dish I have never made before. In this case, I made a Brazilian Jelly Cake known as Brazo Gitano. Brazo Gitano literally translates to GYPSY’S ARM. It is a sponge cake layered with cream cheese and jelly.
Brazilian Jelly Cake
I realize I am pretty darn open to trying to new recipes. The simple reason is I love to try new things especially when it comes to food. It is so fun to learn about different foods and how they were eaten in different cultures. The biggest challenge with the dish was finding a store that carries guava. This search added to the fun and appreciation for the dessert. I was in the City – Chicago. Chicago has plenty of ethnic grocery stores. I simply googled and found one in the neighborhood that I was in. When I walked in the store, I asked if they had guava. They referred me to aisle 2. When I was checking out, there was a Hispanic in line and he asked me what I was making. I love it. I throughout a Brazo Gitano. He was surprised, impressed and I got a great family story from him.
Guava is the jam used in this jelly roll. I wanted to keep this authentic. Guava is a fruit found in sub-tropic regions. It came in a congealed form. It is converted to a soft jelly consistency by mixing it with water and putting in the microwave. I am not sure how to describe the flavor. It is sweet but not overly so.
Guava
The cast of characters.
Ingredients
The dish begins with beating the eggs; the sugar is added and the mixture is beaten again.
Sugar Added to Eggs
Beaten Eggs
The dry ingredients are added and the batter is formed. The batter is is poured onto a greased tray lined with wax paper.
Tray Lined with Wax Paper
Batter Layer
The cake is baked and then flipped over on to a towel with confectioners sugar on it.
Cake Baked
Sugar on Towel
Cake Flipped
The cake rolled up, and then, unrolled.
Cake Rolled
Unrolled Cake
The cream cheese added and the guava added.
Cream Cheese Layer Added
Guava Layer Added
Guava Layer Spread
The final Brazilian Jelly Cake plated.
Brazilian Jelly Cake plated
- 1 cup flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 6 tablespoons water, divided
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons confectioners sugar, divided
- 1/2 cup whipped cream cheese, room temperature
- 1/2 cup packed cubed guava paste
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Spray a 15x10x1-inch baking pan.
- Line pan with wax paper; spray paper.
- Mix flour, baking powder and salt in small bowl. Set aside.
- Beat eggs in large bowl with electric mixer on high speed until very thick.
- Gradually beat in granulated sugar, then 5 tablespoons of the water and vanilla.
- Gradually beat in flour mixture on low speed until well mixed.
- Spread evenly in prepared pan.
- Bake 14 to 15 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
- Place clean kitchen towel on work surface; dust with 2 tablespoons of the confectioners' sugar. Loosen cake around sides of pan with small knife. Turn out onto sugared towel, wax paper-side up.
- Fold 1 side of towel over short side of cake, then roll up cake jelly-roll style.
- Cool cake 15 minutes.
- Place guava paste and remaining 1 tablespoon water in small microwavable bowl. Microwave on HIGH 30 seconds.
- Stir until guava paste is melted and smooth. Set aside.
- Unroll cake onto towel.
- Peel off wax paper.
- Spread cream cheese evenly over cake.
- Top with melted guava paste and spread evenly.
- Using towel, roll up cake and place seam-side down on serving platter.
- Sprinkle cake with remaining 2 teaspoons confectioners' sugar
- Serve and enjoy!
I tried guava paste when I was on holidays in the Caribbean and I absolutely love it! So now that you suggest it in this lovely cake, I am totally in! I need to find this jelly!!
Good luck finding it. You are quite the world traveler.
This sounds and looks delicious! I’ve never made a jelly roll before but your step by step pictures make it much less daunting!!
I have only done it a few times. It is a little tricky but they look so good.
Clearly there were some lucky guests invited to your party! Arroz con Pollo AND this Jelly Cake!? Must have been a delicious event. I’ve never had guava jelly, but I imagine it’s lovely — guava has such a fantastic scent. 🙂
You are so right. Really unique. I do not know how to describe it. Sweet but not overly so.
Your dinner party menu and especially this cake sound delish. Lucky guests! I’ve never had guava before, but hearing how difficult it is to acquire, I now want nothing more than to track some down and give it a try. 😉
I so like your sense of adventure and purpose. The searching will be half the fun.
The rolling part is the hardest for me!
For sure. Need to be delicate.
Love this recipe! We’d call that a Swiss Roll in the UK. Funny how different countries all make the same foods with just slight variations 🙂
I heard that from a few commentors. So true. Food and recipes transcend cultures.
This cake definitely has my attention! It sounds so delicious and the flavors all sound wonderful!
Thx Nic.
Great looking dessert! I’ve never actually made a jelly roll of any sort and this looks like a great place to start!
They can be tricky but not too hard to make.
That sounds wonderful, Peter. I guess the combo of guave jam and cream cheese together takes the jelly roll to another level.
It was truly unique and very tasty.
I’ve eaten guava all my life. There’re in abundance in Malaysia and Taiwan. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to find guava, let alone good ones in US. Have never used guava to make a cake. Great idea. Yum!
So cool. Thx for sharing your experience. It was hard to find.
I love the way you have posted all the step-wise images to prepare this delicious cake. It makes life so much easier!
Thx. It is extra work but I appreciate it when I am on someone elses blog checking out a recipe.
I love all things Latin American, I just made some arroz con coco the other day so this would really compliment that recipe – THANK YOU!
For sure Charla. I wish I could taste your dish.
Wonderful, so reminiscent of Swiss Roll that I grew up gorging on as a child in the UK 😀
Funny. Food brings us back such wonderful memories.
Never heard of guava paste before! Cool idea!
Thx Floian.
I love desserts like this!! So old-world. Reminds me of my childhood! So glad you made it.
Thx Jeff. I am glad it brought you back.
Peter, this looks really fantastic. I have never had Guava jelly, but I am intrigued!
This is the first time I had guava. It is good!
The combo of guava and cream cheese sounds amazing. How creative!
It was great together.