Exploration of the functionality of sugars in cake-baking, and effects on cake quality.

This review paper describes our exploratory experimental studies on the functionality of sucrose and other sugars in cake-baking, and effects on cake quality. We have used the American Association of Cereal Chemists Method 10-90.01 as a base cake-baking method, and have applied Differential Scanning Calorimetry, Rapid Visco-Analyzer, and time-lapse photography analyses in experimental design studies of the effects of the following ingredient and formulation variables on cake quality (e.g. texture, color, moisture content) and other finished-product properties (e.g. shape, dimensions): (a) cake formula levels of sucrose and water, in terms of %Sucrose and Total Solvent; (b) concentration of sucrose or other sugars (e.g. xylose, ribose, fructose, glucose, maltose, polydextrose) vs. wheat flour starch gelatinization temperature and starch pasting during baking and gluten development during mixing; (c) unchlorinated flour vs. chlorinated flours (of varying pH); (d) cake formula %Sucrose and TS vs. cake color, shape, and dimensions; (e) cakes formulated with sucrose or other sugars (i.e. xylose, fructose, glucose), and variable %S and TS, and unchlorinated or chlorinated flour (pH 4.6), vs. cake color, shape, and dimensions.