These soft cookies are divine on their own, but when paired with guava jam, they reach a whole new level of deliciousness.

Enter the guava and cheese cookies from Paola Velez’s new cookbook, Bodega Bakes: Recipes for Sweets and Treats Inspired by My Corner Store, which are unexpected and easy to prepare.

Recipes appear in meal order ... Using your thumb, press a cavity in the middle of each cookie. Spoon 1 teaspoon of guava paste into each cavity. It should form a slight mound.

These days they arrive at the stands ready-fried. When you order, they’re crushed into a bowl and hot cinnamon and guava-flavoured syrup is poured over the top. Peel and seed guavas before ...

About Guava Cheese Recipe: A chewy, fudgy, sticky treat made with fresh guavas. Guava cheese is a popular Goan delicacy. It has a long shelf life. Place chopped guava in a pan and add water to cover.