Effect of ascorbic and citric acids on physicochemical and sensory properties of vegetarian cakes supplemented with grape marc flour

Abstract

This study aimed to develop formulations of mixtures to prepare mug cakes, without eggs and milk, with grape skin and seed flours, and to evaluate their physicochemical, technological and sensory characteristics focusing on the effects of ascorbic and citric acids on cakes with partial replacement of wheat flour with grape marc flour. The products were incorporated with 5% grape marc flour in relation to wheat flour. The following analyses were performed: polyphenols, antioxidant activity, color, pH, specific volume, loss of mass, and sensory. Among the formulations with grape marc flour, the sample with addition of ascorbic acid showed higher (p < 0.05) antioxidant activity measured by the ABTS method than the samples without addition of acids. However, this formulation showed no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) compared with those with addition of citric acid or a combination of acids. According to the Pearson’s correlation coefficient, the more acidic (lower pH) the cake was, the greater the tendency for increased concentration of total polyphenols, anthocyanins, and compounds with antioxidant activity. Regarding specific volume, most of the control formulations presented higher values compared with those of their respective samples with grape marc flour. Thus, incorporation of ascorbic and citric acids into cakes with grape marc flour possibly resulted in red color stabilization, and the cake with grape marc flour and ascorbic acid presented the highest amounts of total phenolic compounds compared with those of other cakes with this by-product, in addition to being one of the cakes most accepted by the tasters, demonstrating the market potential of these innovative food products.

Keywords:
Cake; Eco-innovation; Phenolics; Industry; Market; By-product; Sustainability