The 13 Best Rice Cake Toppings

Rice cakes have been a thing for thousands of years. Asian countries base their diets on white grain and have, in one way or another used rice to make some kind of patty.

Rice flour, whole grain, puffed rice, you name it, rice cakes come in all shapes and sizes.

Rice cakes as we know them today puffed rice pressed together into a hockey puck, became popular in the eighties with the health craze, a trend that came to stay.

The popularity of rice cakes is fundamental; they are healthy, low in carbs, and are an excellent substitute for bread.

On the downside, they taste like nothing, zero, nada. Which brings us to the next question: “What are the best rice cake toppings?”

If you’re on a diet or are working out regularly, you probably already add a pack of rice cakes to your grocery list.

All of a sudden you remember how uninspiring they are when eaten plain. What if you could turn them into tasty yet healthy snacks?

Picture this:

You get back home from a long day’s work, you pull out a couple of rice cakes, smother them with something, top them with something else, and you’ve got yourself a healthy supper to replenish your energy guilt-free while eating something exquisite.

That’s the dream right there!

Our Favorite, Healthy Rice Cake Toppings Ideas

From vegan rice cake toppings to low-calorie rice cake toppings and everything in between, we have you covered.

Take a peek at our selection; you’ll surely find a way to enjoy the puffy rice treats and stay on track with your dietary plans.

1. Avocado Ceviche, Creamy and Refreshing

If you’re in-the-know for health trends, you know avocado is a great source for plant-based, healthy fats.

The right kind of monosaturated fats that lower your cholesterol levels, contrasting greatly with animal fats.

Avocados are packed with vitamins and minerals, and they’re downright dainty. What’s the best way to make them shine? Make ceviche.

Dice your avocado, add diced tomatoes and white onions, a handful of chopped cilantro, and a squirt of lime juice.

Now top your rice cakes and enjoy a two-bite-sized piece of heaven.

Are you in a rush? Simply slice your avocado and top your rice cake, season with salt and you’re good to go.

2. Tomato, Mozzarella and Basil, the Italian Way

Low-calorie rice cake toppings are essential to make your snacks as healthy as possible. With this in mind, we went for the tastiest, healthiest, and simplest salad around and transformed it into a rice cake topping.

We call it rice cake alla Caprese, and it’s basically a crunchy rice cake topped with a slice of mozzarella cheese, ripe tomatoes and a few basil leaves.

Drizzle some extra virgin olive oil and indulge in this Italian inspired healthy snack.

Check out Tanya’s Caprese Rice Cake at Lemons for Lulu.

3. Nut butter, Creamy and Packed with Proteins

In the past few years, we’ve all seen the rise of nut butters in the market.

Peanut butter is still out there and holds the popularity title, but now you’ll find almond, hazelnut, macadamia and walnut butter, among others, and they’re staggering.

All fantastic sources for plant-based proteins and good fats, you can feast on them with few regrets.

A nut butter spread on your rice cake makes an instant superfood.

By the way, nut butters are essential vegan rice cake toppings that supplement protein like few other options.

4. The Bagel Rice Cake, Familiar Flavors with Few Carbs

You know cream cheese and smoked salmon were born to be enjoyed together, it’s a fact, we’ve all seen them together in bagels.

Now, taken out of context, they shine as a rice cake topping too.

Cream cheese and salmon are a great way to dress up your rice cakes; the result is not only beautiful but suitable for get-togethers with fit, health-conscious friends.

Sprinkle with three fingers of thinly sliced chives to add some color and enjoy.

5. Tapenade, Rich in Healthy Oils

If you’re a fitness freak, you know olives are an authoritative source of antioxidants and good oleic acid, the healthy fat that has made the Mediterranean diet one of the healthiest ways of eating.

Tapenade is made with lots of healthy (and flavorful) stuff: anchovies, capers, garlic, olive oil, and of course, olives.

You can get a jar at any gourmet food shop, and it’s one of the fanciest and most satisfying rice cake toppings we’ve tried so far.

You just can’t go wrong with this one.

6. Hummus, Proteins and Unctuous Flavors

Hummus, the chickepealicious Middle Eastern spread, is creamy, savory, and lovable, isn’t it?

It’s an ambassador for today’s healthy eating for its vast amounts of proteins and nutrients, and it’s incredibly versatile too.

Top your rice cake with hummus and a few whole chickpeas, drizzle the entire thing with high-quality extra virgin olive oil and experience a healthy snack that will make you forget bread and butter.

If all healthy food were as tasty as this, the world would be a different place.

Learn how to make Rice Cakes with Hummus and Roasted Tomatoes with Julia at Happy Foods Tube.

7. Feta Cheese and Cucumbers, Not Your Usual Greek Salad

Deconstructing a refreshing and nutritious Greek salad brought us to this enticing, just-say-summer Mediterranean topping.

It ticks all the right boxes for healthy eating and flavor. Briny feta cheese, sliced cucumber, a few cherry tomatoes and Kalamata olives if you feel like it.

Don’t forget to add a pinch of salt and a hefty amount of olive oil, and you’ll hold in your hands a Greek salad rice cake.

8. Rice Cake Pizza, Because You Deserve a Treat after Workout

Every diet and workout plan eventually takes you to a point where you want to give up. Taking care of yourself and getting into shape is hard on your mind and body.

Sometimes it’s the simple things; the small pleasures that make you want to continue.

Rice cake pizza is one of those — delectable, greasy, savory pizza without all the carbs that make a regular pizza or even topping focaccia flatbread a big no-no.

Smother your rice cake with tomato sauce, add cheese, and your favorite pizza topping; we won’t judge.

Microwave or bake for a few seconds, and you’ll end up with a delicious treat that’ll make you keep going.

Go on; you deserve it.

Learn how to make a 64Kcal pizza party for fit girls at Foodie-ness.

9. Berries, Healthy and Juicy

Cranberries, Strawberries, Blackberries, Blueberries, Raspberries; you know the crew.

These small fruits are perfect toppings for everything, including rice cakes. Make an instant dessert with the bonus of being low in carbs and sugar.

If you want a healthy lifestyle, antioxidants are the name of the game, and berries are loaded with them in the form of anthocyanins and resveratrol.

Spread cream cheese, nut butter or anything sticky to your rice cake and top it with berries for an all-natural tasty treat.

10. Bananas, The One and Only Yellow Superfood

You know a daily fruit serving is good for you, but you might not know that bananas don’t get enough credit as a superfood.

Lots of fiber, potassium, vitamins and minerals make this soft and sweet tropical fruit one of the best things you can add to your diet to stay healthy.

Slice a banana and place it neatly over your rice cake, sprinkle it with cinnamon, and you’re looking at your new favorite breakfast.

Like a bowl of cereal, but better, this sweet snack has all you need to start the day with energy.

11. Tuna Sashimi, Where There’s Rice There’s Sushi

Taking inspiration from sushi and Asian cuisines, we figured that a rice cake topped with sushi-grade raw fish would taste great, and it does.

Whether you use tuna, salmon, scallops or sweet eel, you’ll be making a delightful treat that’s healthy and utterly satisfying.

Add a few drops of soy sauce, drizzle the fish sesame oil and sprinkle sesame seeds for the complete experience.

It’s as if rice cakes were created to be enjoyed this way; actually, they were.

See how Whitney crushes some Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice Cakes at Whitneybond.com.

12. The Baklava Rice Cake, Flavors of the East

Because sometimes you want to indulge on a sweet treat, while staying away from wheat bread, look no further, this rice cake baklava is what you’re looking for.

Top your rice cake with caramelized, assorted nuts, drizzle it with honey, and sprinkle with cinnamon.

As simple as that and you’ll have a glorious sweet two-biter that tastes and has the texture of baklava — all with half the calories of the traditional one.

13. Chocolate Covered Rice Cake, a Guilt-Free Dessert

Dark chocolate is an excellent source of antioxidants and a powerful bringer of happiness; that’s a proven fact.

It’s delicious too, so top your rice cake with liquid dark chocolate and see how it becomes a sweet snack reminiscent of your childhood Choco Krispies treats.

While you’re at it, top the whole thing with marshmallows, bring out your kitchen blowtorch and make yourself a S’more rice cake.

Milk and white chocolates work too, and you can use them sparingly to keep things exciting.

Rice cakes, topped with anything, are great substitutes for other carbs like bread, which makes them always healthier than a sandwich.

The fact that rice cakes are light, easy to carry, have long shelf lives and are easy to customize makes them a no-brainer and a perfect addition to your diet.

Enjoy our rice cake toppings and create your own.