One-Can Guava Cobbler

A tropical twist on the Southern summer classic—made easy with just one can of guava.

Who doesn’t love a warm, comforting bowl of peach cobbler during the summer? It’s golden, gooey, sweet, and just a bit tangy, topped with cold vanilla ice cream melting into the crispy edges? Bliss. But what if we could give that Southern classic a tropical upgrade?

That’s where guava comes in.

I grew up with a guava tree in my backyard in Zimbabwe, and despite being surrounded by its sweet, fragrant fruit, I never thought to use it in desserts, not even jam. Where I’m from, guava was more of a snack or juice ingredient than anything else. But after moving to the U.S., I realized that guava doesn’t get nearly enough love, especially outside of Caribbean or Latin cuisine.

This cobbler changes that.

We’re taking the soul of a traditional cobbler and infusing it with tropical flavor using just one can of guava (though feel free to double or triple the recipe if you're feeding a crowd). It's sweet, buttery, warmly spiced, and perfect served hot with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Trust me: if you like peach cobbler, you’re going to love this.

This recipe serves 2 generous portions, or just 1 if you're having a me time moment. No judgment. Dig in.

Tips & Variations

• Want more topping? Just double the batter recipe for a thicker, cakier crust.

• Like it tangier? Add more lemon juice or a pinch of lime zest to the guava filling.

• You can substitute fresh guava (peeled, seeded, and sliced) if you have access to it, just add more sugar and liquid.

• This is for guava of course but you can experiment with berries, apples and cherries (or go traditional with peaches, and some fruit you’ll want to cook down first with the filling).

Yield: 2-3

Author: Dontmissmyplate

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One-Can Guava Cobbler

Give your classic Southern peach cobbler a tropical twist with this easy guava cobbler recipe, made with just on3 can of guava! Sweet, buttery, and warmly spiced, it’s the perfect summer dessert served hot with vanilla ice cream. A unique fusion of Caribbean flavor and Southern comfort that’s simple, nostalgic, and unforgettable.

Prep time: 15 MinCook time: 30 MinTotal time: 45 Min

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Ingredients

For the Guava Filling:

• 1 tablespoon butter, melted (for greasing the pan)
• 1 can guava in syrup (I used Koo's, 410g)
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

For the Batter:

• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/8 cup white sugar
• 1/8 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons cold butter, cut into small pieces
• 1/8 cup boiling milk or water (milk adds richness)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon sugar, for sprinkling

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. In an 8x8 inch baking dish (or similar size), add 1 tablespoon of melted butter and swirl to coat the bottom and sides. This adds flavor and keeps things from sticking.

Make the Guava Filling

1. Drain the guava, saving a tablespoon or two of syrup if you'd like to drizzle over the finished cobbler.
2. In a bowl, combine the drained guavas with 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1 tablespoon white sugar, 1 teaspoon cornstarch, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice, 1/8 teaspoon salt, 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ginger, and 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg.
3. Gently stir to coat, being careful not to mash the guava, they’re more delicate than peaches.
4. Carefully spoon this mixture into the prepared baking dish.

Make the Cobbler Topping:

1. In a mixing bowl, combine 1/2 cup flour, 1/8 cup white sugar, 1/8 cup brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
2. Add 3 tablespoons of cold butter, and use a pastry cutter or your fingertips to work it into the dry mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.
3. Stir in the boiling milk or water just until a dough forms. Do not overmix, or the topping will be tough.

1. Drop spoonfuls of the dough over the guava filling, then use your fingers or the back of a spoon to gently spread it out. It doesn’t need to be perfect or fully covered, rustic is beautiful.
2. Sprinkle the top evenly with cinnamon sugar.
3. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the filling is bubbling.
4. Let cool for a few minutes (if you can wait), then serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or even coconut whipped cream for an extra tropical vibe.

I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information on dontmissmyplate.com should only be used as a general guideline.

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