If you want to serve a neutral platter
Plain rice cakes leave room for toppings or other snacks on the table. Jumbo sells a plain variety; its characteristics don’t necessarily apply to other plain rice cakes.
Who are these options for?
If you’d prefer to serve a thick rice cake
A thick wholegrain variety is an option if the usual thin rice cake isn’t quite the shape you’re after. Jumbo lists a 120 g pack of thick wholegrain rice cakes. If fibre matters to you, compare the nutritional information for the variety you choose.
If you’re looking for a snack that needs no extra topping
A coated or flavoured rice cake can be served as it is. Jumbo and ALDI offer varieties including yoghurt- and chocolate-flavoured options; check the specific pack for its ingredients and allergens.
What matters when choosing?
First decide whether you want to serve a neutral base or a snack with its own flavour. Then compare the shape, ingredients and nutritional information of the varieties that suit you.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Neutral flavour | Check whether it’s a plain variety and read the ingredients. | If I want guests to choose their own toppings, I look for a rice cake without a strong flavour. Around 40% of consumers prioritise this versatility when serving. |
| Thick or wholegrain rice cake | Compare the product shape and, if fibre matters, the nutritional values per 100 g and per serving. | I’d prefer a thick rice cake and want to know what a serving actually contains. This combination is a priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Flavour without toppings | Check the flavour or coating and read the allergen information on the pack. | If I don’t want to serve anything extra with the rice cakes, I’d rather choose a sweet or savoury flavour. Around 30% of consumers put this ready-to-serve convenience first. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming all rice cakes are the same kind of snack
A plain rice cake, a thick wholegrain rice cake and a coated one don’t give guests the same choice of flavour and shape.
Decide which type you want to serve first, then compare packs within that category.
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Assuming the name tells you how much fibre is in each rice cake
The amount per serving can give a different impression from a comparison per 100 g. For example, the Voedingscentrum lists 0.7 g of fibre in one large 15 g plain rice cake; that figure doesn’t apply to every rice cake.
Read the nutritional information on the pack you’ve chosen and compare fibre per 100 g as well as per rice cake or serving.
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Relying only on online ingredient information
Albert Heijn and PLUS point out that product information can change. This matters particularly if you’re checking ingredients or allergens for your guests.
Check the label on the exact pack before serving, even if you’ve bought that flavour before.
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Assuming a rice cake is the same as a digestive biscuit
A rice cake is a different type of product from a biscuit. If you’re specifically after the flavour and texture of a digestive biscuit, a rice cake may not be what you’re looking for.
Decide whether you want to serve a crunchy rice cake as a snack or a biscuit with coffee.
Brands to consider
These brands offer different types of rice cake; the characteristics of one product don’t apply to the whole range.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers plain, thick wholegrain and coated rice cakes.
- You can compare a neutral option with rice cakes in different shapes or flavours.
- Check the nutritional information and ingredients for each variety separately.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn offers AH plain rice cakes as well as rice cakes from other brands, including Zonnatura.
- The range includes different packs you can compare side by side.
- Albert Heijn says ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change, so check the current pack.
PLUS
PLUS offers a 130 g roll of plain rice cakes and thick wholegrain rice cakes.
- These varieties let you choose between plain and wholegrain options.
- PLUS says product information can change, so use the current label when choosing something for guests.
Goud Gebakken
ALDI offers rice cakes under this brand with sea salt, as well as yoghurt- or chocolate-coated varieties.
- There are both savoury and coated options to consider.
- Information about the sea salt variety doesn’t tell you anything about the ingredients or characteristics of the coated varieties.
Zonnatura
Jumbo lists Zonnatura Organic Plain Rice Cakes in a 130 g pack.
- This is a specific plain variety you can compare with other plain packs.
- The organic label alone doesn’t tell you which flavour or shape your guests will prefer.
Flavoured rice cakes at Joybuy
These rice cakes are suited to a platter with a distinctly sweet or savoury flavour and need no extra toppings. If you’re after a neutral base, you’ll need a different variety.
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Snack a Jacks rice cakes with chocolate pieces 166 g
For anyone who wants to serve a chocolate-flavoured rice cake with coffee instead of a neutral base.
Pack size: 166 g.
If any of your guests have allergies, check the label on this pack before serving.
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Snack A Jacks Smooth Caramel rice cakes 140 g
For anyone who wants to serve a caramel-flavoured rice cake without any extra toppings.
Pack size: 140 g.
The caramel flavour isn’t a substitute for a plain variety; if any of your guests have allergies, check the pack.
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Snack A Jacks Barbecue Pepper rice cakes 103 g
For anyone who wants to serve a savoury barbecue and pepper-flavoured snack with coffee.
Pack size: 103 g.
The strong flavour isn’t suited to a neutral platter; check the allergen information on the pack.
Frequently asked questions
Can rice cakes replace digestive biscuits with coffee?
Not if you specifically want to serve the flavour and texture of a digestive biscuit: rice cakes are a different type of product. Choose them when you want to offer a crunchy rice cake as a snack, and choose a biscuit if that’s what your guests expect.
How should I store rice cakes until my guests arrive?
Follow the storage instructions on the pack you’ve chosen. For Zonnatura Organic Plain Rice Cakes, Jumbo advises storing them in a cool, dry place in a sealed container; reseal an opened pack and only put the rice cakes out just before serving.
What should I check if a guest has a food allergy?
Read the allergen information on the pack of the exact rice cake variety before serving it. Albert Heijn warns that online product information can change, so don’t rely only on a product page you’ve viewed before or the ingredients of a different flavour.
Are all rice cakes gluten-free?
A claim for one product doesn’t apply to all rice cakes. ALDI describes its specific Goud Gebakken sea salt variety as gluten-free; for any other pack, check the claims and ingredients of that particular variety.