A Systematic Review on the Development of Gluten-Free Cookies: Formulation, Physicochemical, Nutritional and Sensory Properties

Main Article Content

Marisa zakiya ulfa

Abstract

Background: The awareness of celiac disease and other disease related gluten intolerance has driven customers to demand gluten free products. Though gluten free products have challenges to provide the consumer with the same quality attributes. 


Purpose/Aim: The purpose of this study is to review the existing formulations which optimizes the ingredient functionality in gluten free cookies to improve the nutrition and sensory attributes. 


Methods: Using the PRISMA guidelines and focusing on range of dates from 2016 - 2023, a literature review of peer reviewed articles has been completed. Starch, protein, and fiber breakdown and analysis, the review will also demonstrate quality and processing modifications. 


Result: Evidence suggests the addition of legumes, pseudocereals, resistant starch and other dietary fibers to improve on protein, dietary fiber, and micronutrients. While also improving on other parameters including to water retention, texture, and matrix continuity. In balance though, additions have been noted to increase hardness, reduce spread ratio, and increase color. An optimal addition of 20 - 30% of most of the components is suggested to maintain or improve the other sensory attributes.


Conclusions: Integrated optimization approaches are clinically and commercially relevant to gluten free cookies for use as vehicle for functional and health benefitting ingredients. More focused approaches to demonstrate the ingredients for optimized variable will improve functional and health benefit.

Article Details

Section
Articles

References

Adeola, A. A., & Ohizua, E. R. (2018). Physical, chemical, and sensory properties of biscuits prepared from flour blends of unripe cooking banana, pigeon pea, and sweet potato. Food Science & Nutrition, 6(3), 532–540. https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.590

Adewole, O. A., Jolayemi, O. S., Ayo-Omogie, H. N., & Badejo, A. A. (2024). Development and techno-functional characterization of gluten-free flour from rice, Cardaba banana, and pigeon pea. Journal of Future Foods, 6(2), 266–278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfutfo.2024.04.011

Aini, N., Sustriawan, B., Olivia, N. A., & Mela, E. (2025). Sensory profile, preference and nutritional value of gluten-free cookies made from corn flour, sweetened with sucrose and coconut crystal sugar. Food Research, 9(3), 292–302. https://doi.org/10.26656/fr.2017.9(3).163

Akram, S., Chatha, A., Abid, J., Farooq, U., & Ahmad, A. M. R. (2025). Development and quality assessment of gluten-free cookies using rice flour and date fruit. Frontiers in Nutrition, 12, 1645063. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2025.1645063

Azuan, A. A., Mohd Zin, Z., Hasmadi, M., Rusli, N. D., & Zainol, M. K. (2020). Physicochemical, antioxidant and sensory characteristics of cookies supplemented with different levels of spent coffee ground extract. Food Research, 4(4), 1181–1190. https://doi.org/10.26656/fr.2017.4(4).058

Belkacemi, L., Ozgolet, M., & Arici, M. (2025). Enhancing the nutritional and textural properties of gluten-free shortbread biscuits: The potential of white-fleshed sweet potato flour blended with corn starch. Journal of Food Science, 90, e70123. https://doi.org/10.1111/1750-3841.70123

Bolarinwa, I. F., Lim, P. T., & Muhammad, K. (2019). Quality of gluten-free cookies from germinated brown rice flour. Food Research, 3(3), 199–207. https://doi.org/10.26656/fr.2017.3(3).228

Cannas, M., Pulina, S., Conte, P., Del Caro, A., Urgeghe, P. P., Piga, A., & Fadda, C. (2020). Effect of substitution of rice flour with quinoa flour on the chemical-physical, nutritional, volatile and sensory parameters of gluten-free ladyfinger biscuits. Foods, 9(6), 808. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods9060808

Cervini, M., Frustace, A., Garrido, G. D., Rocchetti, G., & Giuberti, G. (2021). Nutritional, physical and sensory characteristics of gluten-free biscuits incorporated with a novel resistant starch ingredient. Heliyon, 7(3), e06562. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06562

Culetu, A., Duta, D. E., Papageorgiou, M., & Varzakas, T. (2021). The role of hydrocolloids in gluten-free bread and pasta: Rheology, characteristics, staling and glycemic index. Foods, 10(12), 3121. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10123121

Dadalı, C., Özcan, Y., & Ensari, İ. C. (2025). Multifactorial optimization of gluten-free cookie with artichoke bracts as rice flour substitute and transglutaminase. Food Science & Nutrition, 13, e70420. https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.70420

Dogruer, I., Baser, F., Gulec, S., Tokatli, F., & Ozen, B. (2023). Formulation of gluten-free cookies utilizing chickpea, carob, and hazelnut flours through mixture design. Foods, 12(19), 3689. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12193689

El Khoury, D., Balfour-Ducharme, S., & Joye, I. J. (2018). A review on the gluten-free diet: Technological and nutritional challenges. Nutrients, 10(10), 1410. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10101410

Elisanti, A. D., Rindiani, R., Purnasari, G., Amareta, D. I., & Permadi, M. R. (2025). Nutritional content of gluten-free cookies as an alternative snack for undernourished children. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 1446, 012029. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1446/1/012029

Ferradji, S., Bourekoua, H., Djeghim, F., Ayad, R., Krajewska, M., & Różyło, R. (2024). Development of a novel gluten-free cookie premix enriched with natural flours using an extreme vertices design: Physical, sensory, rheological, and antioxidant characteristics. Applied Sciences, 14(22), 10391. https://doi.org/10.3390/app142210391

Flores-Jiménez, N. T., Ulloa, J. A., & Urías-Silvas, J. E. (2024). Assessment of the physicochemical, functional and structural characteristics of a defatted flour from guamuchil (Pithecellobium dulce (Roxb.)) seeds. Future Foods, 9, 100351. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fufo.2024.100351

Gagneten, M., Pieniazek, F., Archaina, D., et al. (2023). Texture study of gluten-free cookies added with fibre by instrumental, image and sensory analysis. Food Measure, 17, 4034–4044. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11694-023-01943-3

Giri, N. A., & Sakhale, B. K. (2021). Effects of incorporation of orange-fleshed sweet potato flour on physicochemical, nutritional, functional, microbial, and sensory characteristics of gluten-free cookies. Journal of Food Processing and Preservation, 45, e15324. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfpp.15324

Goubgou, M., Songré-Ouattara, L. T., Bationo, F., et al. (2021). Biscuits: A systematic review and meta-analysis of improving the nutritional quality and health benefits. Food Production, Processing and Nutrition, 3, 26. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43014-021-00071-z

Haddaway, N. R., Page, M. J., Pritchard, C. C., & McGuinness, L. A. (2022). PRISMA2020: An R package and Shiny app for producing PRISMA 2020-compliant flow diagrams. Campbell Systematic Reviews, 18, e1230. https://doi.org/10.1002/cl2.1230

Hamdani, A. M., Wani, I. A., & Bhat, N. A. (2021). Pasting, rheology, antioxidant and texture profile of gluten-free cookies with added seed gum hydrocolloids. Food Science and Technology International, 27(7), 649–659. https://doi.org/10.1177/1082013220980594

Huong, N. T. M., Tien, N. N. T., Phi, N. T. L., Hoa, P. N., & Van Hung, P. (2025). Quality and digestibility of gluten-free cookies made from rice flour substituted with highly enzyme-resistant mung bean starch. International Journal of Food Science, 2025, 7689819. https://doi.org/10.1155/ijfo/7689819

Jan, K. N., Panesar, P. S., & Singh, S. (2018). Optimization of antioxidant activity, textural and sensory characteristics of gluten-free cookies made from whole Indian quinoa flour. LWT – Food Science and Technology, 93, 573–582. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2018.04.013

Lonescu, V. A., Ciontu, A. E., Ianuș, G. I., et al. (2025). Celiac disease: Diagnostic advances, differential challenges, and interface with non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Gastrointestinal Disorders, 7(4), 79. https://doi.org/10.3390/gidisord7040079

Lu, X., Kraithong, S., Theppawong, A., et al. (2025). The multifunctional role of hydrocolloids in modulating retrogradation, starch hydrolysis, and the gut microbiota. Food Chemistry, 489, 144974. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.144974

Luque-Vilca, O. M., Paredes-Erquinigo, J. Y., Quille-Quille, L., et al. (2024). Utilization of sustainable ingredients (cañihua flour, whey, and potato starch) in gluten-free cookie development: Analysis of technological and sensorial attributes. Foods, 13(10), 1491. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13101491

Makovicky, P., Makovicky, P., Caja, F., et al. (2020). Celiac disease and gluten-free diet: Past, present, and future. Gastroenterology and Hepatology from Bed to Bench, 13(1), 1–7.

Martínez, E., García-Martínez, R., Álvarez-Ortí, M., et al. (2021). Elaboration of gluten-free cookies with defatted seed flours: Effects on technological, nutritional, and consumer aspects. Foods, 10(6), 1213. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10061213

Melini, V., & Melini, F. (2019). Gluten-free diet: Gaps and needs for a healthier diet. Nutrients, 11(1), 170. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11010170

Mohammadi, M., Khorshidian, N., Yousefi, M., & Khaneghah, A. M. (2022). Physicochemical, rheological, and sensory properties of gluten-free cookie produced by flour of chestnut, date seed, and modified starch. Journal of Food Quality, 2022, 5159084. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/5159084

Mulla, M. F. Z., Mullins, E., Lynch, R., & Gallagher, E. (2025). A mixture design approach to investigate the impact of raw and processed chickpea flour on the techno-functional properties in a bakery application. LWT – Food Science and Technology, 229, 118206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2025.118206

Nakilcioğlu, E., & Ötleş, S. (2022). Multiresponse optimization of physical, chemical, and sensory properties of the gluten-free cake made with whole white quinoa flour. Journal of Food Science and Technology, 59(10), 3836–3847. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-022-05406-3

Ndovie, P., Nkhata, S. G., Geresomo, N., et al. (2025). Nutritional, functional, and microbial qualities of legume-based flour blends processed by SMEs in Zambia and Malawi compared to standard corn-soy blend plus (CSB+): A cross-sectional study. BMC Nutrition, 11(1), 49. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-025-01034-0

Nugraheni, M., Sutopo, Purwanti, S., & Handayani, T. H. W. (2019). Nutritional, physical and sensory properties of high protein gluten and egg-free cookies made with resistant starch type 3 Maranta arundinaceae flour and flaxseed. Food Research, 3(6), 658–663. https://doi.org/10.26656/fr.2017.3(6).145

Punia Bangar, S., Sharma, N., Singh, A., Phimolsiripol, Y., & Brennan, C. S. (2022). Glycaemic response of pseudocereal-based gluten-free food products: A review. International Journal of Food Science & Technology, 57, 4936–4944. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijfs.15890

Punfujinda, C., Pattarathitiwat, P., Chombhuphan, R., et al. (2025). Physical and chemical properties of gluten-free biscuits incorporated with purple sweet potato flour. International Journal of Food Science, 2025, 9955286. https://doi.org/10.1155/ijfo/9955286

Silav-Tuzlu, G., & Tacer-Caba, Z. (2021). Influence of chia seed, buckwheat and chestnut flour addition on the overall quality and shelf life of gluten-free biscuits. Food Technology and Biotechnology, 59(4), 463–474. https://doi.org/10.17113/ftb.59.04.21.7204

Silva-Paz, R. J., Silva-Lizárraga, R. R., Jamanca-Gonzales, N. C., & Eccoña-Sota, A. (2024). Evaluation of the physicochemical and sensory characteristics of gluten-free cookies. Frontiers in Nutrition, 10, 1304117. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2023.1304117

Stoin, D., Poiana, M.-A., Alexa, E., et al. (2025). Current trends in gluten-free biscuit formulation using rice flour enriched with chestnut flour and fruit powders. Foods, 14(23), 4074. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14234074

Thelma, K., Shonisani, M., Ramashia, E., & Edward, M. (2025). Nutritional composition, antioxidant, and sensory characteristics of gluten-free biscuits produced from malted finger millet (Eleusine coracana) flours. Discover Food. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44187-025-00408-4

Ye, L., Zheng, W., Li, X., et al. (2023). The role of gluten in food products and dietary restriction: Exploring the potential for restoring immune tolerance. Foods, 12(22), 4179. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12224179

Ziobro, R., Juszczak, L., Witczak, M., & Korus, J. (2016). Non-gluten proteins as structure forming agents in gluten-free bread. Journal of Food Science and Technology, 53(1), 571–580. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-015-2043-5