From nut to Dulce de leche: Development of a vegan alternative – Physicochemical characterization, microbiological evaluation and sensory analysis

Abstract

There is a growing trend in the consumption of plant-based raw materials and the use of nuts is a promising alternative in the development of non-dairy foods. This study aimed to produce vegan Dulce de leche with water-soluble baru and cashew nuts extracts (WSBE and WSCE). The WSBE and WSCE were produced using a nut: water ratio of 1:6 (w/v) with the subsequent addition of sucrose and heat treatment to produce Dulce de leche made with baru and cashew nuts (DLBN and DLCN). The nutritional composition of WSBE, WSCE, DLBN, and DLCN showed significant protein and lipids levels with high profile of monounsaturated fatty acids – MUFA and polyunsaturated – PUFA, and lower saturated fatty acids – SFA, leading to lower atherogenicity and thrombogenicity indexes. The Dulce de leche showed a balanced energy value (kcal) and lower hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) levels. The sensory acceptance test showed a higher scores for WSBE and DLBN for the attributes evaluated, corresponding to “slightly liked” and “moderately liked” when compared to the WSCE and DLCN, with no differences for the purchase intention, which was classified as “probably would buy, probably would not buy”. Thus, the use of water-soluble nut-based extracts can be an alternative for the development of vegan Dulce de leche, contributing positively to consumer health, animal welfare, and the environment.