A topping for snack food products comprising large food flakes pre-coated with an adhesive and a method for applying the pre-coated food flakes to a food substrate to produce a topped snack food product. The food substrate may be any savory shelf-stable food known in the art such as a chips, pretzels, crispy bread products, popcorn, or nuts. The food flakes may be pieces of vegetables, fruits, meats, cheeses, grains, herbs or spices that complement the food substrate. The pre-coated food flakes are heated to partially liquefy the adhesive coating and then are applied to the food substrates. The topped food substrate is then subjected to changed process conditions to harden the adhesive, forming a bond between the food flakes and the food substrate.
