Silvanas (Sylvanas)
Silvanas with meringue wafers, French buttercream filling, and ground cashew or cracker crumb coating are the ultimate cookies! Chewy, creamy, and buttery, they're seriously addicting!

- Prep time
- 1 hr 20 min
- Cook time
- 20 min
- Yield
- 13 servings
- Difficulty
- HARD
Ingredients
Quantities are shown as originally provided.
- 6 egg whites
- 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1 cup roasted unsalted cashews
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 3 tablespoons water
- 5 egg yolks
- 8 ounces (2 sticks) butter, softened and at room temperature
- 2 cups roasted unsalted cashews
- 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
Instructions
- 1
In a food processor, blend together all-purpose flour and 1 cup cashews until fine. Set aside.
- 2
Preheat oven to 325 F.
- 3
Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Using a marker, trace several circles about 2.5 inches diameter on the parchment with about 1 1/2 inches of space in between.
- 4
In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the egg whites on medium-high speed until foamy.
- 5
Sprinkle in cream of tartar and continue to beat until soft peaks form.
- 6
Gradually add sugar and continue to beat until stiff peaks form.
- 7
Using a rubber spatula, gently fold in the vanilla and the ground cashews/flour mixture in three additions.
- 8
Transfer the meringue into a large piping bag fitted with a large piping tip. Following the circles as a guide, pipe circles that are about 1/2 inch high on the parchment paper.
- 9
Using a small knife or an offset spatula, smoothen and flatten tops of the meringue. Gently tap the baking sheet on the counter to remove any bubbles.
- 10
Bake the meringue in a 325 F oven for about 18 to 20 minutes, or until lightly golden. The edges will be tender-crisp and the middles are soft.
- 11
Using a spatula, carefully transfer cookies to a cooling rack and let cool completely.
- 12
In a medium saucepan, combine sugar and water and stir. Cook the mixture over medium heat. Once boiling, place a candy thermometer in the pan to monitor the temperature.
- 13
Meanwhile, start to beat the egg yolks on a stand mixer on high speed until thickened and pale in color.
- 14
Continue to beat yolks until the water and sugar mixture on the stove registers 238 F. Turn the heat off and slowly pour the sugar syrup in a thin, continuous stream into the yolks with the mixer running.
- 15
Continue to beat the yolk mixture until the mixing bowl is cool to the touch.
- 16
With the mixer still running, add the softened butter, about a tablespoon at a time, and beat until a fluffy buttercream forms.
- 17
In a food processor, process the 2 cups of cashews until resembles fine crumbs.
- 18
Spread a thin layer of buttercream on the rough side of a cookie ( the side that was facing up during baking). Top it with another meringue cookie with the rough side against the buttercream.
- 19
Spread more buttercream on the sides and the base of cookies to completely cover.
- 20
Roll the buttercream-covered cookie sandwiches in ground cashews. Roll the other cookies in graham cracker crumbs.
- 21
On a parchment-lined baking sheet, arrange silvanas in a single and freeze for about 1 to 2 hours or until firm.
- 22
For longer storage, transfer the cookies into an airtight container and keep frozen until ready to serve.