Rheological and Textural Properties of Gluten Free Cookies based on Pearl Millet and Flaxseed

Gluten is common term refered to proteins found in wheat and related grains which is responsible for elasticity of dough and chewy texture of final product. But gluten causes problems to patients suffering from celiac diseases hence gluten free diet is the only existing treatment for celiac disease today. This study was conducted with an objective to create a dough system composed of pearl millet and flaxseed proteins that would be able to reproduce the same rheological and textural properties as wheat gluten in cookie making. A dough mixture comprising of pearl millet and flaxseed were used to prepare gluten free cookies. Psyllium husk was used to provide gelling property to the gluten free dough. Different dough samples with varying concentrations of flaxseed flour (i.e. 15g, 17g, 20g, and 22.5g) were prepared and thus optimized by rheological testing of dough samples. The cookies formulated from different dough samples with varying flaxseed concentrations were tested for rheological properties and texture profile analysis of the formulations was done. This study indicated that it is feasible to develop gluten free cookies as a commercial snack towards the fast and emerging need of gluten free products for the patients suffering from celiac disease.