Fortified cake with pomegranate seed powder as a functional product

Pomegranate seed as a by-product of the pomegranate juice processing industry contains a range of valuable pharmaceutical and nutritional compounds. It's application as a food supplement leads to enhancement of the nutritional value and healthy properties of final products. In this research, various levels (2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10%) of pomegranate seed powder (PSP) were used in the cupcake formula and their effects on the physicochemical, sensorial, and microbial properties of the final product were evaluated during 28 days of storage at 4 °C. Adding PSP to the cupcake formula significantly increased the protein, fat, and fiber contents of the product (p < 0.05) but did not affect the oxidative stability of cupcakes during the storage time. The PSP increased the hardness of the cupcake. It was also effective in maintaining the moisture content of the product during the storage time. The results indicated that the specific volume, lightness, and yellowness of crust and crumb were decreased by increasing the level of PSP, while the redness of crumb was increased. Besides, the results of the sensory evaluation showed the addition of PSP up to 5% to cupcake formula did not have a significant negative effect on the sensory characteristics of the product. It could be concluded that the PSP could be used in cupcake formulation up to 5% as a flour replacement for nutritional and functional enrichment of cake without adverse effect on cake quality.