Tropical Guava Cake

This tropical guava cake is soft, moist, and gently fragrant with natural fruit sweetness. The crumb is light yet tender, finished with a smooth guava topping that adds a bright, sunny flavour. It is an easy, reliable bake that suits both beginners and confident home bakers. From start to finish, it comes together in about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Ingredients

For the cake

• 200g unsalted butter, softened
• 200g caster sugar
• 4 large eggs, at room temperature
• 200g self-raising flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 3 tbsp milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

For the guava topping

• 200g guava paste or thick guava pulp
• 2 tbsp water or orange juice
• 1 tbsp lemon juice

For finishing

• Icing sugar, for dusting
• Butter and baking parchment, for lining

How to Make Tropical Guava Cake

• Prepare the oven: Preheat the oven to 180°C or 160°C fan. Grease and line a 23 x 30cm traybake tin with baking parchment, making sure the sides are well covered.
• Cream the butter and sugar: Place the butter and caster sugar into a large bowl and beat until pale and fluffy. This step helps give the cake its light texture.
• Add the eggs: Beat in the eggs one at a time, adding a spoonful of flour if the mixture starts to curdle. Stir in the vanilla extract.
• Fold in the dry ingredients: Sift the self-raising flour and baking powder together, then gently fold into the mixture with the milk until smooth and well combined.
• Bake the cake: Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin and level the surface. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until golden and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
• Prepare the guava topping: Warm the guava paste with water or juice and lemon juice in a small saucepan. Stir gently until smooth and pourable.
• Cool and finish: Leave the cake to cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then spread the warm guava topping evenly over the surface. Allow to cool completely before slicing.

Tips for Best Results

Why did my cake sink in the middle?

This usually happens if the oven door is opened too early. Keep the door closed for at least the first 25 minutes of baking.

How do I stop the topping from becoming too thick?

Warm it gently and add a little extra liquid until it reaches a smooth, spreadable consistency.

Can I make this cake extra moist?

Brush the warm cake with a tablespoon of guava juice before adding the topping for added moisture.

Serving Suggestions

• Serve with lightly whipped cream or crème fraîche
• Enjoy with afternoon tea or coffee
• Add fresh tropical fruit on the side

Storage

Room temperature

Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days in a cool place.

Refrigerator

Keeps well for up to 5 days. Bring to room temperature before serving for the best texture.

Freezing

Freeze the plain cake without topping for up to 3 months. Defrost fully, then add the guava topping before serving.

Nutrition

• Calories: 360 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 45g
• Protein: 5g
• Fat: 18g
• Saturated fat: 10g
• Sodium: 180mg

Nutrition values are estimates and may vary depending on ingredients used.

FAQs