These Fresh Guavas in Syrup are a popular South African dessert that features ripe, pink guavas (guayabas) simmered in a simple sugar syrup, spiced with cinnamon and cloves, with a hint of refreshing citrus.
My family’s favorite way to enjoy this stewed dessert is with an easy Vanilla Custard Sauce or simply with evaporated milk. For a more filling treat, you could try serving it with Hot Bread and Butter Pudding or even Oven Baked French Toast.
These cooked guavas make the perfect, unique holiday dessert to serve to guests.
Table of Contents
Guava Fruit Stew Ingredients
Guavas: The variety of guavas, or guayabas, I used in this recipe have a pale yellow exterior and a vibrant pink interior.
Sugar: Pink guavas are quite tart, even when ripe, and the sugar sweetens the fruit and forms the base of the lightly spiced syrup.
Water: Fresh guavas are very firm and not very juicy, so the water is necessary to soften the fruit while cooking, and create a syrup.
Cinnamon sticks: Because stewed guavas are a hot dessert served mainly during cold weather months, it makes sense to add warming spices like cinnamon. Avoid using ground cinnamon in this syrup, because it’ll permeate the liquid and become too overwhelming.
Cloves: Cloves give a distinct note of exotic spice to the stewing syrup. I wouldn’t swap it out with any other spices, but you can omit it.
Lemon juice (optional): A splash of fresh lemon juice balances out the sweetness of this syrup, and adds a pop of fresh citrus flavor to the dessert.
How to Cook Guavas
Step 1: Prepare Guavas
Peel and slice guavas into quarters.
Step 2: Make the Syrup
In a pot or saucepan over medium-low heat, add the sugar, water, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and lemon juice.
Simmer for 10-15 minutes, and add the guavas.
Cook for 10-15 minutes more, until the guavas have softened, and the syrup has thickened.
Step 3: Serve Stewed Guavas With Custard
Allow the guavas and syrup to cool slightly, and serve with custard, ice cream, or evaporated milk.
Stewed guavas Recipe Notes and Tips
Use firm, slightly ripened guavas.
The sugar and water measurements can be adjusted to your preference. Use less water, for a thicker syrup.
You can leave out the spices, but I do recommend that you add them, for an extra dimension of comforting flavor.
Storing Stewed Guava Fruit
Allow the guavas and sugar syrup to cool down completely, and store them in an airtight jar or container in the fridge.
If you decide to try this spiced guava dessert, let me know your favorite way to serve it.
Fresh Guavas In Syrup
Ingredients
- 4-5 guavas cut into wedges
- ½-1 cup sugar
- ½-1 cup water
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 3 cloves
Instructions
- Peel and slice guavas into quarters.
- In a pot or saucepan over medium-low heat, add the sugar, water, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and lemon juice.
- Simmer for 10-15 minutes, and add the guavas.
- Cook for a further 10-15 minutes, until the guavas have softened, and the syrup has thickened.
- Allow the guavas and syrup to cool slightly, and serve with custard, ice cream, or evaporated milk.
