INNOVATIVE BAKERY PRODUCTS

The main objective of this Ph.D. project was to find different solutions to improve the technological, sensorial, sustainability and nutritional characteristics of bakery products. Biscuits were used because of their characteristics: they are widely consumed and they are a good energy source, despite the high content in sugars and fats. Different strategies were investigated. 1. Production of a functional flour thanks to enzymatic conditioning of the wheat to obtain a whole flour with both better technological quality and improved nutritional profile for dietetic fibre composition and antioxidant compounds. 2. Substitution of palm oil with a more sustainable and healthier fat ingredient, such as extra virgin oil, grape seeds oil, in comparison with the widely used, sunflower oil. 3. Enrichment with different functional ingredients: a. whey proteins: enzymatic hydrolysis was investigated as a strategy to get protein ingredients suitable to produce acceptable high proteins biscuits; b. fibers: different fibres, mainly derived from by-products, were tested to evaluate their potential role as functional ingredients to improve texture and oxidative stability of biscuits; c. waste grape skins extract: 3D-printing technology was used to minimize the degradation effect of the baking process on antioxidant activity of an encapsulated grape-skin extract added to biscuits.