If you are looking for healthy puffed rice cake toppings, here are six simple and nutritious healthy rice cake snack ideas to try. Some are sweet, some savory but all will make that 3PM snack craving fun, easy and delicious!
If you’re in a snack rut, puffed rice cakes topped with delicious things are something you should try today! The cakes on their own are pretty dry and not particularly satisfying but I recently discovered that they are a PERFECT low-cal alternative to sandwiches!
Of course there is nothing wrong with a good sandwich but it’s usually too substantial and too filling to be eaten as a snack. Plus, I’m often more interested in the toppings than the bread, especially when it’s not mealtime yet.
Open sandwiches on puffed rice cakes bring snack time to a whole new level! The topping variations are endless but if you’re looking for ideas, I am sharing my 6 favorite combinations below.
If you are looking for a healthy dessert using puffed rice cakes, make sure to also try my Almond Butter Chocolate Rice Krispies. Searching for more healthy snacking? Check out this Low-Carb Trail Mix.
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Healthy rice cake topping ideas
To make plain and slightly boring rice cake interesting and nutritious, I developed a winning topping formula:
- Protein or healthy fat rich spread
- Fresh fruit, veg or protein
- Healthy and/or crunchy sprinkles
When you follow this simple principle, the humble rice cake turns into a perfectly balanced and delicious snack that will keep you satisfied for a couple hours.
The 6 flavor combinations that I like best are:
- Almond butter, fresh berries & chia seeds
- Peanut butter, sliced banana & cinnamon
- Hummus, bell pepper & hemp hearts
- Cottage cheese, cucumber, tomato, salt & pepper
- Mashed avocado, smoked salmon, red onions & capers
- Avocado “toast”: mashed avocado, boiled egg & Everything Bagel seasoning
Ingredient notes
- Rice Cakes: any rice cakes will work: white rice, brown rice or multigrain. Pick rice cakes that are fresh, firm and crisp.
- Almond Butter: I buy mine at Trader Joe’s or Costco. Any kind of almond butter will work.
- Fresh Berries: I used a mix of fresh raspberries and blueberries. Swap them for chopped strawberries and blackberries, if you want.
- Chia Seeds: these are optional and add a great crunch and extra boost of plant-based omega-3’s!
- Peanut Butter: my favorite peanut butter is Teddie’s all-natural creamy peanut butter without added sugar or oil.
- Banana: for a classic banana + PB flavor combo. Slice it as thin or thick as you like!
- Cinnamon: for an additional layer of flavor and antioxidants.
- Cottage Cheese: a wonderful yet underrated source of protein. I like Good Culture.
- Cucumber & Tomato: I used Persian (mini) cucumber and cherry tomato but full size slices are also fine. Sliced radish is another great topping for cottage cheese.
- Salt & Pepper: to season.
- Hummus: use any hummus you like and have. I love classic homemade hummus but store bought is a great convenient alternative.
- Bell Pepper: any color will work. I like red or orange better than green because they are sweeter.
- Hemp Hearts: for some extra protein and fiber.
- Avocado: pick an avocado that’s fully ripe and soft to touch.
- Smoked Salmon: Trader Joe’s sells a great small pack of smoked salmon with 3-4 slices. Perfect if you don’t want a lot of leftover salmon.
- Capers & Red Onion: classic smoked salmon garnishes. If you have fresh dill, it’s also great in this flavor combo.
- Avocado: to make an avocado toast rice cake variation that’s great for light breakfast, too.
- Egg: I boil my egg for 7 minutes for a perfectly “gummy” egg that’s between soft-boiled and hard-boiled. You can also use poached, scrambled, fried, sunny side or sliced or grated hard-boiled egg. So many possibilities!
- Everything Bagel seasoning: the best crunchy topping on avocado toast, in my opinion.
How to make healthy rice cake snacks
Making puffed rice cake open sandwiches is super quick and easy. You can make several of the same kind or a couple different ones.
STEP 1: Spread nut butter, hummus, mashed avocado or cottage cheese on rice cakes. I recommend mashing the avocado with a fork in a small bowl before spreading it on the cake. Mashing it directly on a rice cake may cause the cake to break since it’s rather brittle.
STEP 2: Add the primary topping: berries on almon butter, banana on peanut butter, cucumber and tomato on cottage cheese, sliced pepper on hummus and boiled egg or smoked salmon on mashed avocado.
STEP 3: Sprinkle with seeds or spices: chia seeds, hemp hearts, cinnamon, Everything Bagel seasoning, salt & pepper and red onion & capers on smoked salmon. You can add whatever “sprinkles” you like. Chia seeds and cinnamon will like on all sweet toppings while hemp hearts and Everything Bagel seasoning will go well on all savory ones.
What else goes well on rice cakes
Much like with regular sandwiches, rice cake topping possibilities are endless. You can make them quick and simple, such as turkey and cheese or fancy and elegant, such as whipped feta and olive tapenade. Here are some more ideas to try:
Savory:
- Cream cheese, smoked salmon & Everything Bagel seasoning
- Ricotta, sliced strawberries & chopped basil
- Cottage cheese, fresh chopped herbs (chives, dill, parsley), salt & pepper
- Egg salad & sliced radish
- Tuna or chicken salad & lettuce or spinach
- Cream cheese & red bell pepper
- Sliced cheese, mustard & pickle
Sweet:
- Peanut butter & jelly
- Ricotta, fresh blueberries & lemon zest
- Nutella & berries or banana
- Cottage cheese & fruit (strawberries, pineapple, kiwi)
- Thick Greek yogurt & fruit
More prep tips
- If you are serving rice cake snacks to a crowd or kids, consider a topping bar. Serve rice cakes, spreads, cut up fruit, veggies and eggs separately and let everyone assemble their own “sandwiches”.
- These are also great as a school or work lunch or snack. Just bring some dry rice cakes and toppings separately and assemble your snacks when ready to eat. Or, keep a bag of dry rice snacks and nut butter at work (if you’re able to) and just bring some fresh fruit.
- Store leftover rice cakes in a closed plastic bag or airtight container at room temperature. Air will make them stale quickly.
Recipe FAQs
Rice cakes are puffed rice snacks formed into round cakes. They are very light, crunchy and they have a rather neutral flavor. Look for them near bread or chips at most grocery stores.
Yes, especially rice cakes made with brown rice or other grains. Those rice cakes are rich in fiber and minerals that come from whole grains. Because rice cakes are so light and airy, they are lower in calories than bread or crackers. Rice cakes topped with nut butter, cottage cheese or avocado, like in this recipe, are definitely a healthy and nutritious snack.
No because they will become soggy. You can prep all the toppings ahead of time but don’t assemble the snacks until ready to serve!
More healthy snacks
Recipe
Healthy Rice Cake Snacks
Ingredients
Almond Butter & Berries
- 1 tablespoon almond butter
- ¼ cup berries blueberries and raspberries
- pinch chia seeds optional
Peanut Butter & Banana
- 1 tablespoon peanut butter I like Teddie's smooth PB
- ½ small banana
- a pinch of ground cinnamon
Cottage Cheese, Cucumber & Tomato
- 2 tablespoons cottage cheese
- ⅓ mini cucumber sliced
- 1-2 cherry tomatoes sliced
- Salt & pepper to taste
Hummus & Pepper
- 1 tablespoon hummus
- ¼ orange bell pepper sliced into strips
- pinch Hemp hearts optional
Avocado & Smoked Salmon
- ½ small avocado mashed
- 1 slice smoked salmon whole or cut into pieces
- 1 teaspoon capers drained and roughly chopped
- 1 teaspoon red onion minced
Avocado & Egg
- ½ small avocado mashed
- 1 egg soft or hard boiled
- sprinkle Everything Bagel seasoning
Instructions
Almond Butter & Berries
- Spread almond butter onto the rice cake, top with fresh blueberries and raspberries and sprinkle with chia seeds.
Peanut Butter & Banana
- Spread peanut butter onto the rice cake, top with fresh banana slices and sprinkle with cinnamon.
Cottage Cheese, Cucumber & Tomato
- Place cottage cheese on the rice cake and spread evenly using the back of a spoon. Top with tomato and cucumber slices and season with salt and pepper.
Hummus & Pepper
- Spread your favorite hummus onto the rice cake, top with sliced bell pepper (any color) and sprinkle with hemp hearts.
Avocado & Smoked Salmon
- Mash avocado in a small bowl, then spread onto the rice cake. Place sliced smoked salmon on top (I like to cut it into smaller pieces so it's easier to eat), then sprinkle with chopped red onion and capers, if desired.
Avocado & Egg
- Boil an egg to your preference (I like boiling my for 7 minutes for a gummy yolk), transfer to a bowl with icy cold water to cool. Mash avocado in a small bowl, then spread onto the rice cake. Top with sliced egg and sprinkle with Everything Bagel seasoning.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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Meet the Author
Hi, I'm Agnieszka. I'm a mom of three and recipe developer, writer and photographer behind Wholly Tasteful. I love creating comforting, delicious, family-friendly recipes that you can feel good about.
Emily Woodward says
I always forgot how great rice cakes are. My favorite one is the almond and berry recipe.
Jan says
such great ideas for rice cakes. Sometimes I get stuck with just vegemite. I love the PB and banana combination. Always a winner!
Marcellina says
Thanks for all the variations and new ideas to top my puffed rice cakes! I particularly like the avocado and smoked salmon.
Boguslawa says
Healthy and delicious🤗
Natalie says
I love rice cakes. People usually dislike them but not me... I will have to give your ideas a try. Hummus on rice cake sounds great!
Nora says
These snacks are just the thing for my daughter! She loves rice cake sandwiches! Thanks for the great ideas!
nancy says
great GF options for a snack. i haven't had a rice cake in forever!!
Jean says
enjoyed making these rice cakes, especially with banana, peanut butter and cinnamon. also made with mango toppings.
Keri says
This was exactly what I was looking for. I love to eat rice cakes, but can never think of creative toppings. Thank you!
Marcellina says
Yum! These are such delicious toppings! Can't wait to try them all!
Stine Mari says
So many yummy rice cake snacks I wouldn't know where to begin!
Donna says
These have been a lifesaver on busy afternoons after school. We had fallen into a snack rut, so this has been a lovely change of pace.
Alexandra says
So many delicious options to choose from!
Jean says
love they are so filling and quick to make!
Tatiana says
We make lots of these during the week for breakfast before school.
Jere Cassidy says
We always have rice cakes in the pantry, but literally, we just spread them with peanut butter which is getting boring. You gave me so many good ideas to make my snack tastier.
priya pchaudhary says
I always keep Grainic's healthy rice cakes on hand for a quick and satisfying snack! They're the perfect balance of crunchy and filling, without any of the guilt. Highly recommend!
Michelle says
Great ideas, thank you! My biggest hang-up about rice cakes is that I can't prep them in advance, but c'est la vie.
Agnieszka says
I hear you! You can have the toppings ready to go though, for example mashed out avocado or washed and dried berries to go on top of nut butter..