I love a good Rocky Road. I love the heftiness and endless versatility. Though, unsurprisingly, I have views on what makes a good one! Ratios matter. So here’s my Rocky Road recipe. It’s easy. And it’s oh-so-good.
Rocky Road opinions
Rocky Road is about as simple as candy recipes get. Melt chocolate. Stir in add-ins of choice. Marshmallows, raspberries and peanuts are classic. Coconut is my must-have extra.
In other countries around the world (I’m in Australia, BTW!), cookies and dried fruit are common. And I’ve seen glacé cherries instead of raspberries.
No judgement. Rocky Road is a recipe to make your own!
The only firm view I have is to make sure there is enough add-ins. Rocky Road has heft to it, it’s not a thin, wimpy piece of candy. It’s a thick slab. Nobody wants to bite into an enormous block of plain chocolate. We want to sink our teeth into a delightful medley of textures – soft marshmallow, chewy raspberry, nutty crunch of peanuts.
So don’t skimp on add-ins!!
What you need for Rocky Road
Here’s what you need to make my Rocky Road.
Chocolate – EASY OPTION
Use chips or melts for an easy option. Upgrade to block chocolate for premium. I use a combination of dark and milk chocolate to get the best of both worlds: chocolate flavour intensity plus creaminess of milk chocolate!
Chocolate melts and chips are the easy option because there’s no chopping involved and they are made for easy melting. Equal amounts of both dark (US: semi-sweet) and milk chocolate is my favourite. You get the best of each type of chocolate: good chocolate flavour from the dark chocolate plus the creaminess of milk chocolate.
But feel free to use the combination you want!
PREMIUM CHOCOLATE
If you want to upgrade, for example, if you’re gifting or making to impress, use block chocolate instead. Lindt is my premium pick before moving into couverture (higher grade chocolate used by fine patisseries, chocolatiers etc), for flavour, quality and also it’s shiny because it’s tempered.
Plaistowe is probably the “best” in the baking aisle followed by Cadbury. And a couple of good US brands: Ghirardelli and Baker’s brand.
As with the chips, I will typically use a combination of dark and milk chocolate though if using Lindt, I usually stick with just one type. For the sake of purity! 70% for grown ups, milk chocolate for all-rounder crowd pleaser.
If using chocolate block, you’ll need to chop it up before melting. The finer you chop, the easier it melts.
Note: Lindt is not cheap and you need 5 blocks. I stock up when they are steeply discounted. It happens every now and then!
⚠️ Eating vs cooking chocolate
Whatever chocolate you choose, it is safest to source the chocolate from the baking aisle which is made for melting and cooking. Some chocolate from the confectionary aisle (ie for eating) is actually made to prevent it melting easily if, say, it’s sitting in a warm pantry, your car or handbag.. So they will not necessarily melt smoothly. They are also more prone to problems like seizing and burning if you use the microwave rather than a bain-marie (bowl over simmering water).
It’s not the end of the world for Rocky Road because we re-set the chocolate anyway, but it’d be highly risky to use in things like Chocolate Mousse. So if you know of eating chocolate brands that melt perfectly / you’ve nailed the art of melting Cadbury Milk Chocolate blocks, feel free to use it! But just be aware that chocolate from the baking aisle is safer for use in cooking!
The only exception is Lindt. This can be sourced from the chocolate confectionary aisle. It melts 100% perfectly. And did you know Lindt is already tempered so it’s natural shiny? Lindt is special! 🙂
rocky road add-ins
And for the add-ins! Here’s what goes in mine. Classic Aussie Rocky Road – marshmallows, chewy raspberries and peanuts. Plus coconut. Reminiscent of retro Golden Rough (chocolate coconut candy here in Australia). Coconut isn’t always present in Rocky Road, but for me it’s a must!
How to make Rocky Road
Hot contender for the world’s easiest candy recipe!
Melt chocolate in 30 second bursts, stirring in between.
Stir until smooth. (Hot tip – use a chopstick during the initial stirring phases. Easier – and less surface area for chocolate to stick to. Switch to rubber spatula towards the end).
Stir through add-ins.
Spread in a 20cm/8″ paper lined square pan.
Refrigerate for 3 hours (or overnight, or days!) until fully firm.
Cut – Remove from the fridge 30 minutes prior to cutting into pieces. I cut into 5 bars, then into smaller pieces if serving to eat, and larger pieces if gifting.
Tell me your Gold Standard Rocky Road!
Thinking back, I’m pretty sure that the vast majority of the time I make Rocky Road is for gifting. Which is not surprising. Rocky Road is a sizeable piece of candy. There’s no such thing as a small nibble. Even breaking off a “small” hunk is a decent mouthful! Unlike, for example, my current favourite small-form candy to have around the house which allows me to take a small guilt-free nibble when the craving hits. (Never mind that I go back to the jar 10 times a day).
What about you? Is Rocky Road a gifting recipe? For parties? Or are you a committed candy monster who will make this for yourself?
But more importantly – SHARE YOUR GOLD STANDARD ROCKY ROAD add-ins!! I bet you make a killer Rocky Road! – Nagi x
Watch how to make it
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Rocky Road
Ingredients
Chocolate (read Note 1!):
- 225 – 250g / 8 oz dark chocolate melts or chips (1 1/2 cups) or block, chopped (US: semi-sweet chips)
- 225 – 250g / 8 oz milk chocolate melts or chips (1 1/2 cups) or block, chopped (or more dark choc)
- 2 tbsp coconut oil or any plain flavoured oil (prevents cracking, adds bit of sheen, Note 2)
Nagi’s Rocky Road Add-ins (Note 3):
- 3 cups marshmallows, pink and white , most cut in half (firmly pack the cups!)
- 3/4 cup raspberry lollies , halved
- 1/3 cup desiccated coconut (or flakes), unsweetened
- 1/2 cup unsalted peanuts , very roughly chopped (ie almost just halved)
Instructions
- Line a 20cm/8" square pan with baking paper (parchment paper).
- Melt chocolate – Place chocolate and oil in a bowl. Microwave in 30 second increments, stirring in between, until melted and smooth.
- Add-ins – Stir the Add-ins into the chocolate. Pour into pan, spreading out evenly.
- Refrigerate for 3 hours or until fully cool.
- Cut – Remove from the fridge 30 minutes prior to cutting. I cut into 5 lines, then into chunks for eating or larger pieces for gifting!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Life of Dozer
Back to the vet for another check up with ongoing tummy issues. 😢 Clearly he’s gotten into something he shouldn’t have – again! It’s been over a week now, so I’m a little worried so I took him to the vet again. He’s had various blood tests and all have come back clear.
Here he is, wondering if the bandage is edible (the bandage was for the blood test patch).
For now he’s on a strict gastro-intestinal dog food diet. No treats, no taste testing, not even a drizzle of canned fish juices to make the dry food more interesting.
He’s so unimpressed with this new diet! Hopefully it won’t be for too long and he’ll bounce back to his normal self.
Thank you for this yum recipe! I make a killer rocky road every Christmas – it’s a huge batch! Mix of chocolate, mix of chopped lollies including raspberries, red frogs, violet crumble, cherry ripe, Turkish delight, Xmas m&ms, cranberries, marshmallows, pretzels, scotch finger biscuits and – are you ready – toasted shredded coconut! Delicious! I cut into bars and gift to everyone! Another great tip – keep the crumbs and serve over ice cream!! You’re welcome 🙂
Yes I’m definitely a Turkish delight fan too
I’m concerned about Dozer! Is he any better? Please keep us updated. Thank you!
Turkish delight (instead of the raspberries)! For me, this is what makes Rocky Road special.
Ooh, that’s a good idea! Unfortunately I’m the only one in the house that likes it and that’s only a recent discovery. I hated it up until a few years ago.
My main change is that I use salted peanuts. The salt offsets the sweetness just enough. So more-ish! I’ve also added liquorice before for a change.
I agree. Easy and delicious. I also make with white chocolate and macadamias rather than peanuts! Thanks for reminding me about this delicious treat. Heading to the mountains so will take it to share.
Yes ! to dried cherries, preferably sour, and I add diced candied ginger. Haven’t used fruit gummies before, but that sounds inspired!
I make Rocky Road with Whittakers almond gold and/or Whittakers Dark Almond….saves buying and adding the almonds 🙂
Also make a white chocolate one for Christmas (have to be careful melting white choc though!)… additions – dried cranberries, pistachios, TOASTED coconut & marshmallows.
Such an easy recipe. Will be making it this week. By the way, was that tomatoes that I saw in the refrigerator? I was taught never to put tomatoes in the fridge.
This might seem too obvious to mention, but I use mini marshmallows — they’re perfect for this recipe. Also, almonds instead of peanuts. And dried cherries instead of candy. YUM.
Hope Dozer feels better soon, he’s adorable. Thinking of making this, love fudge and chocolate with mix ins.
Please what are raspberry lollies? From the uk here 😂
chewy gummy raspberry sweets
Yum! Love Rocky Road! My add ins are marshmallows, Turkish delight (the choc covered bars) and pistachios- much nicer than peanuts! 😋
How could I not make the Lemon Cheesecake after flipping the cookbook page and seeing that gorgeous photograph?! Like others, I’ve made it so many times I almost have it memorized. It’s simply the best cheesecake recipe ever and everyone who’s tasted it agrees – a perfectly balanced lemony, creamy, not-too-sweet/not-too-sour, gorgeous dessert!
Am I out to lunch ? The only Rocky road I have heard of is the Rocky road ice cream from Baskin-Robbins ! I can’t be the only one? Fellow Canadians where are you ?
Taz, fellow Canadian here – and I also had no idea Rocky Road was anything other than an ice cream flavour!
This recipe does remind me of a throwback in Western Canada called Chocolate Spiders – the mix-ins are marshmallows and peanuts with dry chow mein noodles (which makes them look like spiders). The other difference is butterscotch chips in equal portion to semisweet chocolate. I have seen variations with potato chips and the addition of raisins. They are a favourite at my house. I am going to try Nagi’s version this Christmas.
Dark chocolate with turkish delight, cherry ripe, pistachios, marshmallows.
I need a translator!!!!!😫😩
Violet crumbles, rice bubbles, clinkers!!!!!
Chopped frogs!!!😳😱
It’s all good, I just google and it takes me to Amazon!!!!
Get well soon Dozer !!😘
I know, me too! I’m in the US. Our confections are very different from the Australian/NZ ones, and I’m sure the UK ones are different as well. I had to look up most of the add-ins that other commenters mentioned. Even things you thought you knew what they are (looking at you, Mars bar!) may not be the same.
Violet crumble = Crunchie; Rice bubbles = Rice krispies; frogs = raspberry flavoured jellies https://www.woolworths.com.au/shop/productdetails/180028/allen-s-big-red-frogs-lollies
Clinkers https://www.cadbury.com.au/cadbury-clinkers-300g#:~:text=Cadbury%20Clinkers%20are%20colourful%20candies%20centres%20dipped%20in%20smooth%20Cadbury%20milk%20chocolate.
I can’t take credit for it but my favourite rocky road combo is white chocolate with coconut, cranberries and pistachios. I make it every Christmas for sharing or gifting. Weird thing is, I’m not really a fan of rocky road or white chocolate but this combo really works!
Marshmallows, rice bubbles, mars bars, and snakes! It’s like a chewy chocolate crackle, the ultimate kids party food.
All good thoughts going out to Dozer – feel better soon!