Guava Flower Power

Chris Connors

While Bonrue Bakery prides itself on its European café stylings, the flower-shaped Guava Cheese Danish was actually conceived as an ode to “foodie road trips” in Southern California, notes Chris Connors, co-founder. He credits both a popular pastry sold by Porto’s in Los Angeles and the colorful blossoms of the pineapple guava tree as sources of inspiration for this singular sweet treat. It was introduced in 2023 by head baker Ben Garcia.

The dough is shaped into a flower. An inner circle is filled with housemade guava jam and topped with sweetened mascarpone cheese. Pearl sugar is sprinkled across the “petals.” A fresh blueberry at the center completes the homage. The recipe took time to perfect, says Connors. “The mascarpone cheese took the pastry to the next level. The blueberry gives the customer the impression it has a nice, light, fruity flavor that hits on all levels.” The Danish was an instant winner with customers. “We went from selling six a day to 50 pretty much overnight,” he says. “Now, it’s one of our top-five pastries.”

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