BY: Jas · PUBLISHED: · UPDATED: · This post may contain affiliate links.
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This creamy Mexican Guava Charlotte [Carlota] Cake is an easy, five-ingredient, no-bake delicious dessert, perfect for celebrations. No wonder it's a Christmas staple in virtually all Mexican households.
![Guava Charlotte Cake - Mexican Carlota • All that's Jas (1) Guava Charlotte Cake - Mexican Carlota • All that's Jas (1)](https://i0.wp.com/www.all-thats-jas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/mexican-guava-carlota-recipe.jpg)
This easy dessert, a Mexican icebox cake version, is made with layers of Marias cookies and cream cheese/condensed milk/guava sauce, filling flavored with lime juice and topped with guava sauce. SO DELICIOUS!
I bet you're dying to know...
Table of Contents
1) 📃 Why it Works
2) 🍰 Charlotte Origin
3) 🛒 Ingredients and Notes
4) 🔪 Instructions
5) 👩🍳 Expert Tips
6) ❓ Frequently Asked Questions
7) More easy no-bake cakes to try
8) 📖 Recipe
9) No-Bake Guava Charlotte Cake - Mexican Carlota
📃 Why it Works
- It's a perfect recipe to whip up any time of the year.
- Guava paste is available year-round.
- It only needs five ingredients. What's not to love?
- Best part? There's no baking involved, so it's impossible to mess up [plus another recipe to save for summer when the oven stays off].
🍰 Charlotte Origin
Russian Charlotte or Charlotte Russe is a dessert invented in London by the French chef Marie-Antoine Carême, who named it in honor of his ex-employer George IV's only child, Princess Charlotte, and his current, Russian employer, Czar Alexander I. Russe is the French word for "Russian."
The dish was called Charlotte à la Parisienne (Parisian Charlotte) initially, but later, the dessert became famous all over the world under the name Charlotte Russe (Carlota in Spanish).
It is a dessert in which the mold is laid out with ladyfingers or a finished Swiss Roll biscuit and filled with Bavarian cream and whipped cream.
![Guava Charlotte Cake - Mexican Carlota • All that's Jas (2) Guava Charlotte Cake - Mexican Carlota • All that's Jas (2)](https://i0.wp.com/www.all-thats-jas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/charlotte-cake-with-guava.jpg)
In English, Carlota or Charlotte is a refrigerator cake or an icebox cake, and in Mexico, it is typically made with condensed and evaporated milk.
If you know me and my cheesecake addiction, it's clear why I chose this cream cheese edition. Plus, I've been obsessed with guava lately.
This is hands down the easiest cake I've ever made; it's borderline a cheesecake!
🛒 Ingredients and Notes
With only five simple ingredients, you canmake Guava Charlotte Cake, Mexican-style.
![Guava Charlotte Cake - Mexican Carlota • All that's Jas (3) Guava Charlotte Cake - Mexican Carlota • All that's Jas (3)](https://i0.wp.com/www.all-thats-jas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/guava-charlotte-ingredients.jpg)
Maria cookies: delicious wheat flour cookies or biscuits sweetened with brown sugar, making them sufficiently sweet without being overwhelming. They are perfect for dipping into hot tea or coffee and also great with milk for breakfast.
If you can't find Marias cookies by Gamesa (Mexican), use Maria cookies by Goya (American). Also, these are good substitutions:
- Marie biscuits
- Graham crackers
- Vanilla wafers
- Digestive biscuits
- Arrowroot biscuits
- Ladyfingers
Guava paste: Itis fairly readily available in most stores; Kroger, Target, and Walmart all sell it. It's usually found in the world food aisle and also on Amazon.
🔪 Instructions
![Guava Charlotte Cake - Mexican Carlota • All that's Jas (4) Guava Charlotte Cake - Mexican Carlota • All that's Jas (4)](https://i0.wp.com/www.all-thats-jas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/how-to-make-mexican-carlotta.jpg)
- Make guava sauce - heat the paste with water until melted and thick sauce forms.
- Make the filling - beat cream cheese with condensed milk and lime juice. Mix in half of the guava sauce.
- Assemble - arrange Maria cookies on the bottom of a springform. Spread ⅓ of the filling, making sure the cookies are completely covered. Repeat the process two more times, with filling as the last layer.
- Finish - Spread the remaining sauce over the top layer. Refrigerate for two hours or until firm.
📝 NOTE: Looking for the FULL recipe to print? You can find it below in the recipe card!
👩🍳Expert Tips
- Use an offset spatula to spread filling evenly across the cookies, as you don't want it pooling up in one area. You want a beautiful, level surface for the next layer of cookies.
- You want the filling to get really cold and firm, all the while softening the cookies so you can slice through them with ease when your wait is finally over.
- To cut the cake, warm your serving knife under hot water, dry it off, then make a clean slice. Do this for each cut.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this Charlotte cake gluten-free?
Of course! Use the gluten-free version of Maria biscuits or your favorite GF cookies.
How long does it last?
If you don't eat it all at once (almost happened, I swear), the Guava Charlotte Cake will last up to 5 days in the refrigerator. It's best to keep it tightly wrapped in plastic wrap.
Can I freeze it?
Yes, keep it in the freezer until the night before you'd like to serve it (up to 3 months).
![Guava Charlotte Cake - Mexican Carlota • All that's Jas (5) Guava Charlotte Cake - Mexican Carlota • All that's Jas (5)](https://i0.wp.com/www.all-thats-jas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/no-bake-mexican-guava-charlotte-cake.jpg)
Use Up Leftover Guava Paste in These Recipes:
- Mexican Guava Charlotte
- Brazilian Guava and Salted Caramel Pie
- Puerto Rican Sweet and Savory Guava Dip
Other Ways to Use Up Leftover Guava Paste
- Stir a bit of melted guava paste into regular barbeque sauce – it makes for irresistible grilled meats.
- Use the sauce as a filling forPolish kiflies.
- Top a wheel of brie with a few slices of guava paste and nuts of your choice. Wrap in puff pastry and bake for 30 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Allow resting for 10 minutes before cutting.
More easy no-bake cakes to try
- South African Milk Tart - Melktert
- Sand Cake (No-Bake Serbian Cake)
- Mini Lime and Guava Cheesecakes (no-bake)
- The Best No Bake Tiramisu Cheesecake
![Guava Charlotte Cake - Mexican Carlota • All that's Jas (10) Guava Charlotte Cake - Mexican Carlota • All that's Jas (10)](https://i0.wp.com/www.all-thats-jas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/no-bake-guava-charlotte.jpg)
Liked this recipe? Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating and/or a review in the comments section. Your feedback is always appreciated! Stay in touch through Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook! Don't forget to sign up for my email list below too!
📖Recipe
No-Bake Guava Charlotte Cake - Mexican Carlota
By Jas
This easy no-bake Guava Charlotte dessert is a Mexican version of an icebox cake made with only five ingredients: Marias cookies, guava paste, cream cheese, condensed milk, and lime juice.
4.8 from 8 votes
Rate this Recipe Pin Recipe Print Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes mins
Chilling Time 2 hours hrs
Total Time 2 hours hrs 30 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine Mexican
Yields 8 -10 servings
Calories 457 kcal
EQUIPMENT
springform pan
Ingredients
US Customary - Metric
- 10 oz. guava paste, half the package
- 2 packages Marias cookies, about 50 cookies
- 3 (8 oz.) packages cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1 cup sweetened condensed milk
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
Instructions
Prep the guava paste: In a small saucepan, add 10 oz. Guava paste and ½ cup water. Over medium heat, melt the guava paste, occasionally stirring until a thick sauce forms without clumps. Set aside to cool.
Make the filling: In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or with a hand-held mixer, beat together 3 packages of softened cream cheese with 1 cup of sweetened condensed milk until smooth. Add 2 tablespoons of lime juice and half of the guava sauce (about ¾ cup). Mix to combine.
Assemble the cake: Spray an 8-inch springform pan with non-stick cooking spray or oil. Arrange Marias cookies in a single layer on the bottom and sides of the pan (*scroll up to see step-by-step images). Pour ⅓ of the filling over the cookies, ensuring they are completely covered. Repeat the layering two more times, finishing with the filling on top.
Top the cake: Evenly spread the remaining guava sauce over the filling and refrigerate for at least two hours or until set. Open the springform pan and remove the ring. Cut the cake into wedges and serve with whipped cream if desired.
Notes
- Use an offset spatula to spread filling evenly across the cookies, as you don't want it pooling up in one area. You want a beautiful, level surface for the next layer of cookies.
- You want the filling to get really cold and firm, all the while softening the cookies so you can slice through them with ease when your wait is finally over.
- To cut the cake, warm your serving knife under hot water, dry it off, then make a clean slice. Do this for each cut.
- Use the gluten-free version of Maria biscuits or your favorite GF cookies (*scroll up for other substitutions).
- Please keep in mind thatnutritional informationis a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on the products used.
Storage:
Refrigerate leftover cake tightly wrapped in plastic wrap or in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Freezefor up to 5 months.
Nutrition
Calories: 457kcal (23%) | Carbohydrates: 35g (12%) | Protein: 8g (16%) | Fat: 32g (49%) | Saturated Fat: 19g (95%) | Cholesterol: 107mg (36%) | Sodium: 323mg (13%) | Potassium: 259mg (7%) | Fiber: 2g (8%) | Sugar: 32g (36%) | Vitamin A: 1244IU (25%) | Vitamin C: 2mg (2%) | Calcium: 199mg (20%) | Iron: 1mg (6%)
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Reader Interactions
Comments
Matina says
Can you freeze this? I am afraid it won't all get eaten at once.
Reply
Jas says
Yes, you can freeze the leftovers for up to a month. If it stays frozen longer, the taste and texture will start to degrade.
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CarrieAnn says
Can you use guava jelly in place of guava paste? Thanks in advance.
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Jas says
I haven't tried it myself, but if the consistency is similar, I don't see why not. Let me know how it turned out. 🙂
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Kim says
This looks delicious and easy. We have guava trees and just made a ton of guava paste. I am going to make this very soon. YUM!
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Jas says
Oh, it would be even better with fresh guava! Lucky you to have trees! Enjoy the cake and thanks for stopping in!
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Karen (Back Road Journal) says
My husband is a big fan of guava and would love a slice of this cake.
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Jas says
Oh, then you should really make it for him! No-bake and 5 ingredients, can't beat that! 😀
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Ron says
Hi Jas, what a great adaptation of a classic dish. I love Marias cookies (we call them "guld Marie kex" over here) and you're right, they're perfect with coffee, tea or in your cake. We always make a Carlota de Limón at Christmas, but this year we'll be having your Mexican Guava Carlota. Thanks for sharing.
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Jas says
Hi, Ron! Believe it or not, this is my first Carlota, but it won't be my last. Excited to try different flavors and lemon will be first on the list as my husband adores it. Hope your week is off to a great start! xx
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acraftymix says
I am sooooooo going to make this one. It hits all the right buttons. Maria biscuits (we have Marie biscuits here in SA), condense milk (oh my yumminess) and guava. And best of all. no BAKE!!!!!
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Jas says
You could totally manage this one, Michelle! And it's so creamy and yummy, you'll love it! 😀
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Alexandra Shunk says
What a delicious and easy dessert! I have never used guava paste before but it sounds yummy! I also love layered desserts so this Mexican Carlota Cake sounds right down my alley!!
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Jas says
You should definitely try guava paste, Aleka! You'd like Brazilian "Romeo and Juliet" bites made with queso fresco and guava paste. 🙂
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Brian Jones says
I'm all over any cake that does not need baking, I really do not like baking 😉 This was delicious, really simple and very moorish, thank you 😀
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Jas says
You're welcome, Brian! I'm not a fan of baking either, yet I keep challenging myself. ♀️
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Sadia Malik says
What an awesome combo of guava, milk and lemon. Love that it's a no bake.
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Jas says
Thank you, Sadia!
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Megan Ellam says
Oh gosh this looks amazing! Perfect with Christmas just around the corner.
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Jas says
I totally agree! Thanks, Megan!
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Erica Schwarz says
This recipe is brilliant! Definitely looking forward to this - I LOVE anything with cream cheese, and I love how simple this recipe is. Gorgeous!
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Jas says
Awe, love reading this! Thank you so much, Erica. Enjoy!
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Gavin says
I’ve never heard of this kinda cake - looks AMAZING!!! Defo adding it to make another time
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Jas says
I hope you do, Gavin! Enjoy 🙂
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Kim | Give it Some Thyme says
What a beautiful and mouthwatering cake! Love guava and all those layers. The fact that it's no bake is better yet!
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Jas says
Thank you, Kim! Glad you like it 🙂
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4.75 from 8 votes (8 ratings without comment)