Development of 3D printed zanthoxylum oil waxy rice cake

As an attractive choice for patients with celiac disease, scaling up production and innovating flavors are significant challenges for the development of traditional Sichuan snack, waxy rice cake. 3D food printing is an emerging technology that enables the production of food with the desired shape and structure. This study introduced two types of Zanthoxylum oil to enhance both the printability and quality of waxy rice cakes, aiming to achieve Sichuan-style taste through the Zanthoxylum oil's effect. The results showed that the waxy rice flour dough with Zanthoxylum oil exhibited shear thinning properties, with viscosity decreasing from 292.59 Pa s to 91.16 Pa s at a shear rate of 1 s⁻¹, making it an ideal material for 3D printing. The addition of Zanthoxylum oil significantly enhanced water activity and hydrogen bonds in the dough system. Furthermore, the incorporation of red Zanthoxylum oil accelerated the dough maturation process. 3D printing and TPA results revealed that sticky rice cakes containing 8% and 12% Zanthoxylum oil exhibited optimal printing accuracy, with the 8% sample achieving 96.69% fidelity. After steaming, the waxy rice cake with 8% Zanthoxylum oil retained a height of 18.23 mm and a diameter of 31.74 mm, with a soft, sticky texture. In summary, the product with the addition of 8% red Zanthoxylum oil exhibited superior appearance and texture, making it suitable for 3D printing. This study is expected to realize the customized production of Sichuan-style waxy rice cake.