Effects of Teosinte Flour (Dioon mejiae) on Selected Physicochemical Characteristics and Consumer Perceptions of Gluten-Free Cocoa Cookies Formulated with Mung Bean (Vigna radiata) Flour

Dioon mejiae, or teosinte, is a living fossil tree discovered in Olancho, Honduras, whose seeds have a desirable nutritional profile that can provide health benefits. As a result, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of teosinte flour obtained from seeds on selected physicochemical characteristics and consumer perceptions of gluten-free cocoa cookies formulated with mung bean (Vigna radiata) flour. Gluten-free cocoa cookies were prepared with different levels of teosinte flour (0%, 70%, 80%, 90%, and 100% by weight of mung bean flour) in substitution of mung bean flour. The cookies were evaluated for texture hardness, color (L*, a*, b*), moisture content, and water activity. Sensory acceptability of appearance, color, texture, aroma, flavor, and overall quality of cocoa cookies was rated by 175 consumers using a "yes/no" binomial scale. Overall liking was evaluated using a 9-point hedonic scale. Purchase intent was evaluated with a "yes/no" binomial scale. The levels of teosinte flour did not significantly affect the acceptability of appearance, color, texture, flavor, aroma, and overall quality, and neither the overall liking nor the purchase intent responses. However, the texture attribute had the lowest % acceptability response among all sensory attributes. The addition of teosinte flour did not affect water activity and color (L*, a*, b*), whereas it decreased the texture hardness (g force), producing softer cookies. Cocoa cookies stayed acceptable even at 100% teosinte flour addition (70% acceptability; mean overall liking = 5.69). Teosinte flour has an excellent nutritional profile that could be practically applied in baked goods.