Mild Approach for the Formulation of Chestnut Flour-Enriched Snacks: Influence of Processing Parameters on the Preservation of Bioactive Compounds of Raw Materials

Third-generation snacks were developed from a triad of flours made up of chestnut, spelt, and chickpea flour. Optimal snack formulations and processing parameters have been established to ensure acceptable workability of the raw dough while protecting the bioactive components of the raw materials. The parameters examined were mixing time, speed, and temperature. The properties of the snack were evaluated by analyzing the expansion ratio, hardness, moisture content, and phenolic and volatile compounds. The optimal mixing conditions that ensure maximum expansion were a temperature of 30 °C, a speed of 30 rpm, and a time of 6 min. The results showed that the proper percentage of water and sodium bicarbonate was 35% and 2%, respectively, and that the developed snacks had an alveolar and homogeneous structure. The proposed approach brings several advantages, including the preservation of bioactive compounds during the production process. Furthermore, the mild operating conditions prevented the development of unwanted or unpleasant compounds, as confirmed by the analysis of volatile compounds. Therefore, this study opens new perspectives in the food industry, satisfying the growing demand for functional products and healthy snacks.