Abstract: Snacks with smooth, creamy cheese fillings contain pregelatinized rice flour in the filler and casing portions can be baked or microwaved. The cheese filling contains cheese and pregelatinized rice flour, and does not dry out or leak out on storage or heating. In preferred embodiments, pregelatinized rice flour comprises from about 5 to about 20% by weight of the filler portion. Some embodiments also contain fat and powdered cheese in the filler portion. The casing contains potato flakes and pregelatinized rice flour and retains its structural integrity and does not slip on heating. In preferred embodiments, potato flakes and pregelatinized rice flour comprise from about 10% to about 30% by weight of the starch component in the casing portion.

Abstract: Sucrose-free or -reduced cookies having the crispy texture associated with conventional sucrose-containing doughs can be prepared by replacing part or all of the sucrose with a combination of a glass-forming polysaccharide (preferably a maltodextrin) and a humectant sugar (preferably fructose). Multi-textured cookied can be prepared using the combination of glass-forming polysaccharide and humectant sugar in the crispy outer layer, and a humectant sugar as the sweetening agent in the soft, chewy center.

Abstract: Reduced calorie crackers produced from dough compositions are disclosed which contain 25-70 percent of flour, 0-20 percent of gluten, 0-10 percent fat or shortening, 5-20 percent of a water-soluble polydextrose, 0-5 percent of one or more emulsifiers, 0.5-5 percent of a leavening system comprising yeast and a carbon dioxide-releasing material, and 1.5-10 percent of a cellulosic bulking agent, all percentage being by weight based upon the total weight of the dough, and the total amount of fat, shortening and emulsifier being 3-10 percent weight of the dough. The crackers may be produced either by a one-stage process in which all the ingredients are mixed together prior to fermentation, or by a two-stage process using a sponge stage followed by a dough-up stage. The crackers are desirably produced, in the one-stage process, using a single, rather than a multiple, lamination technique.

Abstract: Reduced calorie cookies having a pH of from about 6.8 to about 9.0 are disclosed which exhibit the desirable texture, mouth-feel and appearance of conventional cookies. An alkaline agent and a leavening system which is predominantly active during baking are used to control pH and textures of the cookies. The cookie contains as a preferred cellulosic bulking agent microcrystalline cellulose. An aqueous solution of the water-soluble polydextrose is used as a replacement for shortening or fat and sugar to avoid lump formation. Powdered or insoluble polydextroses or polymaltoses are incorporated into the dough in the dough forming stage rather than in the creaming stage to enhance crispiness and achieve further caloric reductions.