SWEET DOUGH RESEARCH STUDY

Yeasted sweet dough applications are diverse and include such products as cinnamon rolls/buns, challah, brioche and other enriched loaf breads. As a lasting favorite, the category has seen continued growth in recent years, with sweet doughs/dessert bars showing the highest sales growth in recent years, according to IDDBA (Sloan 2016). The research team selected generic sweet dough without roll-in fat to test egg replacers in applications, baked into both small rolls and cinnamon buns, due to the known functionalities of eggs in these applications.

APPLICATION ABSTRACT

CONCLUSIONS

The sensory evaluation results from panelists on the organoleptic attributes of the sweet dough were consistent with the findings of the objective analytical test results. Overall, changes in quality from the reduction or removal of egg products in sweet dough were slight but noticeable. The areas of sweet dough quality most negatively affected when eggs are removed and/or replaced included dough quality and baked good color, crumb size, aroma, flavor and texture.

The egg replacer formulas were never fully developed after mixing completion and were overly dry, indicating egg replacers may interfere with gluten development and moisture content.

Sweet Dough Visual Comparison

Made with REAL EGGS

Made with EGG REPLACERS^*

STUDY PARAMETERS

For this study, eggs were reduced and/or removed from the sweet dough test formula and substituted with products marketed as egg replacing ingredients for food manufacturers. The team followed manufacturers’ suggested usage level for egg substitutes in sweet dough, which ranged from 50 to 100 percent replacement. The research team then conducted common analytical tests and sensory panelists evaluated organoleptic properties of the finished samples.

SELECTED REPLACERS

The research team selected five egg replacers, including:

• Soy-based blend
• Whey protein concentrate
• Whey protein isolate
• Whole algal flour

PROCESSING OVERVIEW

Sweet dough is typically mixed in a bowl mixer with a dough hook with the primary objectives being, ingredient distribution, flour hydration and structure building through gluten development. Proofing is an additional step in sweet dough production. In this study, the sweet dough was proofed only once. Sweet dough was portioned into both rolls and cinnamon buns for testing.

Raw dough and cooked, cooled rolls and cinnamon buns were analyzed, using industry standard, sweet dough-specific tests. Sweet dough rolls used in analytical tests were made without fillings or toppings to reduce variables. Sweet dough cinnamon buns were used for organoleptic sensory testing, as consumers are accustomed to tasting sweet dough in an application, such as cinnamon buns.

The dough and finished samples were tested for the following as appropriate:

• Dough temperature
• Baked good shape
• Texture
• Moisture
• Water activity
• Subjective dough test
  • Windowpane
• Subjective/sensory tests
  • Cooked appearance
  • Crust color
  • Crumb color
  • Crumb size
  • Crumb uniformity
  • Cooked aroma
  • Texture
  • Flavor
  • Overall likability