Do this at least one hour before preparing recipe. Slice off 3 oz from a block of extra-firm tofu (that's 1/5 of the block, or one serving). Sandwich tofu slice between two layers of paper towel or fold it in a clean, lint-free kitchen towel. Weigh it down with something flat like a small cutting board, plate, or cookie sheet. Allow it to sit and wick off excess moisture.
Preheat oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment or a silicone baking mat. Also brush or spray the parchment or baking mat with oil to encourage crisping.
Cut rice paper into strips roughly 1 1/2 inches wide. You can use kitchen scissors to do this.
In a flat dish large enough to accommodate rice paper strips, whisk together marinade. 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast, garlic powder, cayenne (optional), smoked paprika, liquid smoke, maple syrup, soy sauce, melted vegan butter, and water. Add fresh cracked black pepper if desired.
Crumble pressed tofu into a small bowl. Season with the remaining 1 tablespoon nutrition yeast and 3 tablespoons of the marinade.
Dip one rice paper strip in warm water for just a few seconds. (Do not wait for it to get soft.) Then dip it in the marinade for a few seconds. (Again, do not let it get fully soft in the marinade.) Finally, transfer it to the lined baking tray. Sprinkle crumbled tofu on top, keeping it mainly in the center of the strip so it can be sealed around the edges.
Take a second strip of rice paper and repeat the process above: dip for a few seconds in warm water, then dip in marinade. Place this on top of the first strip with the tofu. Give it a moment to become fully pliable, and press gently with your hands to seal the strips together, pressing out any air bubbles when possible.
Repeat process with remaining ingredients.
Bake strips in the oven for 10-12 minutes. Gently flip them and bake for another 10-12 minutes or until as crispy as you like. Watch them near the end of the cook time as there is a fair amount of natural sugar in this recipe from the maple syrup and it can go from browned to slightly burnt quickly.