Quality Evaluation of Cookies Produced from Wheat, Sorghum and Defatted Coconut Flour Blends

The use of wheat, sorghum and defatted coconut flour blends in the production of whole meal cookies was investigated with the aim of encouraging the use of sorghum and coconut flour in producing value-added products. Enriched cookies were produced from the blends of wheat flour (WF) and sorghum flour (SF) in varying proportions of 100:0, 90:5, 85:10, 80:15, 75:20, 70:25, 65:30, 60:35 with 5% of defatted coconut flour (CF) added to each sample and were labelled AMUS, BMUS, CMUS, DMUS, EMUS, FMUS, GMUS, HMUS respectively. Cookies with 100% wheat flour (AMUS) served as a reference sample. The proximate, physical, mineral and sensory properties of the cookies samples were examined using standard laboratory procedures. The proximate results of the cookies showed that protein, ash, fat, crudefibre, moisture and Carbohydrate ranged from (9.18–12.25%), (0.88–1.15%), (9.59–11.19%), (2.77–3.74%), (7.10–10.89%) and (64.20–66.71%) respectively. The physical characteristics of the cookies; weight (9.69–18.20 g), diameter (272.0–333.0 mm), thickness (7.72–11.40 mm), spread ratio (23.87–41.09) differed significantly (p < 0.05). However, the sensory results showed that the cookies varied in colour (6.85–7.80), taste (6.90–8.15), aroma (7.10–7.75), crispness (6.65–7.75) and overall acceptability (7.25–8.45). The reference sample had the highest sensory scores for all the attributes except for aroma and crispiness, while cookies with 15% sorghum flour (SF) and 5% defatted coconut flour (CF) incorporation had highest score for crispness and 30% sorghum had highest score for aroma respectively. Based on the parameters evaluated 15% sorghum flour and 5% defatted coconut flour incorporation could be utilized for cookies production owing to its baking potential abilities. However, the high protein, ash and fibre contents of the cookies made with sorghum and defatted coconut flour substitution is very important as this could make a great contribution to the nutrient intake by consumers.