Abstract
Background: Cereal bars are convenient vehicles for incorporating ingredients with functional value. In this context, the study aimed to formulate bars enriched with quinoa, amaranth, and calafate (Berberis microphylla) and evaluate their instrumental texture, total phenolic compounds, antioxidant capacity, nutritional composition, and sensory evaluation. Methods: Four formulations were developed, a baseline cereal bar with balanced ingredients (F1), a pseudocereal-enriched bar (F2), a high-calafate bar (F3), and an oat-only control bar (F4). Texture was measured using uniaxial compression, total phenolic compounds (TPC) were determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method, and antioxidant capacity was assessed by the DPPH assay. The nutritional composition was theoretically estimated using food composition tables and dietary reference intakes (DRIs). Sensory evaluation was performed using affective tests, including acceptability, preference, purchase intention, and sensory attributes. Results: The formulations differed significantly in instrumental hardness. F3 had the highest total phenol content and the highest antioxidant capacity. The estimated nutritional composition showed that the bars provide adequate energy and relevant micronutrients (Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn), as well as bioactive compounds from calafate. Sensory evaluation showed that F2 obtained the highest overall acceptance and the highest acceptability index. Purchase intention did not differ between formulations. In the evaluation of attributes, the results indicate that intermediate hardness maximizes acceptance, while softer (F1) or harder (F3-F4) bars are less preferred. Conclusions: The incorporation of calafate enhances the phenolic and antioxidant profile in F3, while an intermediate hardness linked to the greater use of expanded pseudocereals favors consumer acceptance in F2. The observed differences confirm that the formulation design enables the modulation of functional, mechanical, and sensory properties in cereal bars.