Silvana (food)

Silvana is a popular Filipino dessert that originated from the Pampanga region. It is a frozen cookie made from a layer of buttercream sandwiched between two cashew-meringue wafers, coated with cookie crumbs.

History

The exact origin of Silvana is unknown, but it is believed to have been created in the mid-20th century in Pampanga, a province known for its culinary heritage. The dessert is thought to have been influenced by Spanish meringue recipes, which were adapted to incorporate local ingredients such as cashews.

Preparation

Silvana is made by first preparing the cashew-meringue wafers. This involves beating egg whites until they form stiff peaks, then gradually adding sugar and ground cashews. The mixture is piped onto a baking sheet and baked until crisp.

The buttercream filling is made by creaming together butter and sugar, then adding egg yolks one at a time. The mixture is cooked over low heat until thickened, then cooled and beaten until fluffy.

To assemble the Silvana, a spoonful of buttercream is spread onto a meringue wafer, then another wafer is placed on top to form a sandwich. The sandwich is then coated in cookie crumbs and frozen until firm.

Variations

While the traditional Silvana is made with cashews, variations of the dessert may use other types of nuts such as almonds or pecans. Some versions may also incorporate flavors such as chocolate, mango, or ube into the buttercream filling.

See also

• Sans rival
• Meringue
• Filipino cuisine