40 Rice Cake Topping Ideas
Let's be honest, here. By themselves, unflavored rice cakes aren't terribly exciting. However, they have some sterling qualities:
- They are gluten-free.
- They are vegan.
- You can buy them non-GMO, organic-certified.
- There are only 60 calories in a rice cake (some brands have fewer).
- The plain varieties contain no saturated or trans fats.
I like them because they are versatile, fairly inexpensive, and crunchy.
As a person who struggles with portion control, I'd like to remind you that it doesn't matter if you are eating a very healthy, 45-60-calorie gluten-free snack if you use too much of the topping. I noticed during one testing session that my cottage cheese layer was as thick as the rice cake. If I am making a meal out of one of these, I'd give myself a little leeway. However, if it's supposed to be a snack, I have to be careful about how much topping I am using. End of lecture. (See also: How to Lose Weight With Portion Control)
Back to their versatility, though. Below are forty suggestions for topping rice cakes.
Brown-Bagging It
I eat a lot of rice cakes at work, because I hate it when my sandwich bread gets mushy. Simply pack the toppings separately from the rice cakes, and assemble at lunchtime.
1. Egg Salad
2. Tofu-Eggless Salad
3. Chicken Salad
4. Tuna Salad
5. Ham and Swiss
6. Devilled Ham
7. Turkey and Muenster Cheese
8. Holiday Turkey Sandwich
9. Pizza Toppings
Try salami or pepperoni with mozzarella , olives, and a tomato slice. I like to microwave that one briefly, just to melt the cheese. Emergency pizza!
10. Peanut or Almond Butter...
11. with Honey or Jelly
Appetizers Using Rice Cakes
When I get home from work, I usually have a snack. By keeping rice cakes handy, I can conjure up something delicious. Here are some of my favorites.
12. Tapenade
13. Salmon Spread
14. Smoked Salmon
15. Cream Cheese and Chives
16. Pesto
17. Veggie Spread
18. White Bean Dip
19. Canned Bean Dip
20. Hummus
21. Pimento Cheese
22. Canned Cheese
23. Artichoke Dip
24. Pears, Spinach, and Bleu Cheese
25. Avocado, Salsa, and Cilantro
26. Cottage Cheese
27. Chopped Avocado Salad
28. Sliced Avocados or Guacamole
Make a Meal of Rice Cakes
Why not? It's a low-calorie starch to round out any meal.
29. Rice Cakes and Chili
30. Croutons
31. BLT
32. Peanut Sauce
Thai-inspired! Top a rice cake with a layer of peanut sauce. Add cooked, cleaned shrimp and chopped cilantro. (See also: Scrumptious Shrimp Recipes)
33. Ahi Poke
34. Loco-Moco!
Caramelize sliced Spam in medium-heat frying pan with shoyu (soy sauce). While you are heating the Spam, fry an egg. Assemble in layers of rice cake, Spam, and fried egg. If I were really making it correctly, I'd add gravy on top.
35. California Roll
Place crab mixture on rice cake and add some chopped avocado, a little grated carrot, a drizzle of sesame oil, and sprinkle with chopped nori (sushi wrapper).
For the Sweet Tooth
For a sweet snack or a light dessert, try these delicious toppings. (See also: 15 Super Quick Homemade Desserts)
36. Sliced Bananas and Peanut Butter
37. Cinnamon Toast Cakes
Spread a thin layer of butter, and add a sprinkling of cinnamon and sugar.
38. Nutella
39. S'more Cakes
While we're on chocolate, you can make a S'more rice cake from the aforementioned Nutella. Add some mini-marshmallows. Devour.
40. Strawberries and Cream Cheese
What do you like to top your rice cakes with?
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When I was living in Philadelphia, I used to take the bus up to New York once a week for classes, and I'd always bring two rice cakes topped with almond butter and raisins to snack on. I love the crunch rice cakes provide without being too dense. Sometimes I'll eat them with chili or crumble them on top of a stir-fry.
on my brown rice cake, i spread raw peanut butter on top, with half of a banana sliced on top of that. i add a lil bit of powdered cinnamon, and microwave either straw, rasp, blue, black or cranberries and pour that on top. it's super delicious, and real healthy.
peanut butter! hello!
Brilliant article on rice cake sandwiches, I've just given up bread, so this is just what I was looking for. Plus now I'm inspired to make Baba Ghanoush. Do you know, is it posible to BBQ the eggplant for BG? Thanks for a great blog.
No cream cheese and peanut butter, or did I somehow miss that? That's been my favorite combo since I was a kid.
Why even bother eating rice cakes if you're going to slather it in peanut butter, nutella, or canned cheese?
Just found your blog after I tried using plain rice cakes out of desperation as a bread substitute for my favorite snack - I (carefully and watchfully) crisped one up in my toaster oven, and topped with chopped orange bell pepper, a slice of low sodium american cheese and a sprinkle of garlic powder. White pizza, of a sort :) Been my fav snack for decades on very thin bread but celiac left me sadly missing it.
I like almond butter and put 4 prunes on top
Hummus is v.yummy. And my all time favourite, apple sauce out the jar spread thinly on!
I like eating them plain as a study snack :P I never thought of putting stuff on it since I like the rice flavour so much! Now I can have a bit of jam when I'm pushing out that essay~ Thanks for the post!
Toast it and spread on honey and peanut butter, put on banana slices, and top with some cinnamon --so satisfying.
Peanut butter, jelly, black beans and a few drops of hot sauce.
I like to do a bit of cream cheese and some salted cucumbers for breakfast, or even just a snack. If you have time try adding sliced tomatoes and arugula on top as well. Delicious.