Physicochemical Characterization of Carao Honey Flour (Cassia grandis) and Its Effects on the Sensory Attributes in a Cookie

Carao honey is a potential functional ingredient that can generate added value to food products enriched by reducing waste. In many countries, carao has been utilized for therapeutic purposes since this type of plant extract can inhibit the growth against the most common dermatophytes, a pathogenic fungus that grows on the skin, mucous membranes, hair, nails, feathers, and other body surfaces, causing ringworm and related diseases. The physicochemical characteristics of the cookies were also investigated, which included aW, proximate analysis, hardness, and color. A sensory study was carried out to determine the rejection threshold, acceptability, purchase intent, and general taste of 90 consumers. The gluten-free cookies were prepared with carao honey as a partial substitute for rice flour in different percentages (0%, 2.5%, 5%, and 10%). The carao honey proximate composition, rheological properties, and pasting properties were analyzed. It was emphasized that incorporating carao honey into cookies improves the ingredient’s sustainability. The impact of carao on the physicochemical and sensory properties of cookies was evident in color, flavor, and smell. According to the results, only samples with 2.5% carao were accepted regarding flavor and smell. Overall, liking scores, age, and flavor were the most significant predictors of purchase intent. The information given to panelists did not significantly (p < 0.05) influence liking scores only for cookies. According to physicochemical analysis, carao honey flour was high in carbohydrates (88%). The incorporation of carao produced cookies with darker colors and a softer texture. The study demonstrated that carao flour could be included to produce sensorial accepted cookies at a 2.5% addition level as an alternative in the food industry that benefits from environmental sustainability and, at the nutritional level, improves the availability of nutrients, mainly sugars and proteins.