PRODUCTION OF MARSHMALLOW SWEETS FREE OF GOLDEN SYRUP USING SOME FRUITS AND VEGETABLES JUICES.

Abstract

Marshmallow is a special product of chewing soufflé, processed on the basis of sugar and gelatin. It belongs to popular confectionery products. Marshmallow is one of the earliest confections known to humanity. Currently, the world is moving towards maximizing their natural sources, which are used in food processing, with avoiding addition of artificial colors or flavors. Sugar, glucose syrup and gelatin are the main components of marshmallow sweets. Gelatin is useful for joints and articular ligaments of bones. It is clear that, sugar and glucose syrup are one of the main factors for obesity, diabetes and most of other diseases. This research, tended to solve this problem by producing marshmallow (candy) without glucose syrup and reducing the amount of sugar. Resorted juices of some fruits and vegetables, such as strawberry, persimmon, wholly prickly pear, carrots and pumpkin were used as alternative colors and flavor compared to the commercial marshmallow (control) and the blank sample (with glucose syrup), as a novel marshmallow candy product. The obtained results indicated that, wholly prickly pear marshmallow sample had superior value of antioxidative activity (60.41%). Wholly prickly pear sample was the lowest (39.27%) total sugar. Wholly prickly pear, carrot and pumpkin were characterized by most of the mineral contents, except Selenium mineral content which was (0.0 ppm). The water activity (aw) in general, indicated that, there are no significant differences at p 0.05., before or after storage period. Reconstitution ratio values after 6 hrs., for some samples were the best compared to (control and blank). The consumers preferred the classical marshmallow with golden syrup (blank), strawberries, and pumpkin as well. Wholly prickly pear enriched marshmallow compared to control sample Therefore, we recommend to make marshmallows from natural sources and free of glucose syrup with a little sugar, to reduce the processing cost and keep the children health as well as the adults. It can provide a final product with natural and healthy ingredients.