Consumer Perception and Sensory Characteristics of Cookies Incorporated with Strawberry Powder

The effect of baking on the consumer perception and sensory characteristics was investigated using a model system of cookies incorporated with strawberry powder as a value-added food ingredient. Strawberry powder was incorporated into cookie dough at 4 levels (0%, 2%, 4%, and 6%, w/w) by replacing equivalent amount of wheat flour of the cookie dough. After aging and sheeting, cookies were baked at $170^{\circ}C$ for 15 min in an oven. The baked cookies were cooled to room temperature for 1 h and packed in airtight bags prior to all measurements. In terms of color, control received the most favorable mean score, which is significantly higher than others (p<0.05) followed by the 4% sample. The consumer preference on taste and aftertaste was not significantly affected by the amount of strawberry powder incorporated in the formulation (p>0.05). Samples with 4% strawberry powder received the highest mean flavor score of 6.28 which is significantly higher than that of 6% sample (p<0.05). In overall, substitution of 4% strawberry powder in the formulation would result in the most favorable strawberry cookies by the consumers with taking advantages of health benefits of strawberry. Correlation analysis indicated that strawberry powder concentration was significantly correlated positively with sensory color and hardness and negatively correlated with consumers' overall acceptability (p<0.05). Consumers' aftertaste was significantly correlated with overall acceptability which was negatively correlated with sensory hardness (p<0.05). Sensory hardness was highly correlated with sensory color attribute (p<0.05).