Guava duff is a traditional dessert from the Bahamas that features fresh or canned guavas wrapped in a dough and steamed until tender. The result is a moist and fruity cake that is served with a buttery rum sauce. Guava duff is a perfect way to enjoy the tropical flavor of guavas, which are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants.

It is not difficult to make, but it does require some time and patience. The dough is made with flour, baking powder, salt, shortening, milk, and egg, and then rolled out on a floured surface. The guavas are peeled, seeded, diced, and cooked with sugar, cinnamon, and allspice until soft. The guava mixture is spread over the dough, which is then rolled up into a log and wrapped in several layers of parchment paper and foil. The wrapped duff is boiled in a large pot of water for about an hour, until it rises and becomes firm.

The sauce is made by creaming butter and icing sugar, and then adding boiling water, salt, and rum. The sauce is beaten until smooth and fluffy, and drizzled over the warm slices of guava duff. The combination of the sweet and tangy guava filling, the soft and springy dough, and the rich and creamy sauce is irresistible.

This popular dessert for special occasions in the Bahamas, such as Christmas, Easter, or birthdays. It can also be enjoyed as a snack or a breakfast treat. Guava duff can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days, or frozen for up to three months. To reheat, simply steam or microwave the slices until warm, and serve with more sauce if desired.

Guava duff is a delicious way to experience the Bahamian cuisine and culture. It showcases the use of local fruits and spices, as well as the influence of British baking traditions. This is a dessert that will delight your taste buds and make you feel like you are in paradise.

Here is a recipe for Guava Duff

Ingredients:
Fresh guavas* 12
Sugar 1/2 cup
Cinnamon 1 tsp ground allspice 1 tsp
Flour 4 cups
Baking powder 3 tsp
Salt 1 tsp
Shortening 3/4 cups
Milk 3/4 cups beaten 1 egg
Butter 1/4 cup
Icing sugar 1 cup
Boiling water 1 tsp
Dash of salt
Rum 2 tbsp

Instructions:
Peel, seed, and dice the guavas. Strain, reserving the juice. Place the guava in a saucepan with enough water to cover completely. Add the sugar, cinnamon, and allspice. Bring to a simmer and simmer until the guava is soft. (If you are using guava jam, canned guavas or pulp, skip this step, but mix in cinnamon and allspice. Add sugar to taste, but you won’t need much if you’re using jam.)

In a large bowl combine the flour, baking powder and salt and stir well. Mix in the shortening. Add the milk and egg and mix well to form a soft dough. Knead until smooth.

Roll out the dough on a floured board. Spoon on the cooled and cooked guava and spread evenly.

Roll up the dough carefully into a log with a guava spiral. Seal the edges to prevent the filling from coming out during cooking.

Wrap the dough in several layers or baking or parchment paper. Add at least two layers of foil and tie tightly with kitchen twine.

Place in a large pot of boiling water. Boil for about 1 hour.
Make sure the dish is large enough for the wrapped duff to fit comfortably, as it will swell during cooking.

After it is cooked, allow it to cool down to comfortably warm before cutting it into about 1″ thick slices.

Serve with the rum sauce.
Butter rum sauce:

Cream the butter until soft.
Gradually beat in the icing sugar.
Add the boiling water, salt, and rum and beat until smooth and fluffy.

Notes: If you can’t find fresh guava, don’t despair. You can use frozen guava pulp or guava jam instead 1.

This recipe yields about 8 servings and takes approximately 70 minutes to prepare. Enjoy!