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This chocolate Rocky Road recipe is the best no-bake dessert made with plenty of marshmallows and chocolate. It's a favorite straight from Great Grandma that we love to make for weekends, parties, and neighbor gifts!
Rocky Road is a special family tradition.
Rocky Road is a special family tradition.I love that it's incredibly easy, doesn't make a mess in the kitchen, and no baking required. All you need is 15 minutes and a few ingredients!
This beloved rocky road recipe is from my husband's Great Grandmother, who used to make it at Christmas, and would also give it as birthday gifts to her grandchildren. Now my husband's mom makes it every Christmas with our kids. They each make their very own portion in these mini disposable loaf pans. (one batch of rocky road will fill 4 mini loaf pans).
If you love homemade candy recipes try our Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge, Graham Cracker Toffee, Chocolate Fudge, Homemade Almond Joys, and Oreo Balls.
How to make Rocky Road:
Cut Marshmallows: Spray an 8×8 baking dish with cooking spray. Using kitchen scissors, cut each marshmallow into 4ths (I like to dip the scissors in a little bowl of water between cuts so marshmallows don't stick). Add cut marshmallows to pan.
Melt Chocolate: Heat a saucepan on low heat (or use a double boiler). Add chocolate and butter then stir constantly until chocolate is smooth and melted. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract and nuts (if using).
Pour Chocolate: Slowly drizzle melted chocolate over marshmallows, using a spoon or spatula to help push it into all the cracks. Refrigerate until set.
Make Ahead and Freezing Instructions:
To Make Ahead: Rocky Road candy is such a great treat to make ahead! Keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a couple weeks.
To Freeze: Transfer to an airtight freezer safe container and keep in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before enjoying.
More No-Bake Desserts:
- Chocolate Covered Marshmallows
- Peanut Clusters
- Rice Krispie Treats
- Oreo Balls
- Banana Pudding
- Buckeye Recipe
- No-Bake Cheesecake
- Chocolate Cream Pie
- Chocolate Milkshake
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Recipe
Rocky Road
Ingredients
- 10 ounce bag large marshmallows (not mini) , cut into 1/4's
- 8 ounces semi-sweet baking chocolate
- 1/2 cup butter* , cut into chunks
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Instructions
- Prep pan: Grease a 8×8'' baking pan with non-stick cooking spray or butter (or use 4 mini disposable loaf pans, for gifting).
- Cut marshmallows (we use scissors, dipping them in water after each cut, to keep the marshmallow from sticking). Add cut marshmallows to the pan.
- Melt Chocolate: In a saucepan over low heat (or a double boiler) add chocolate and butter. Stir constantly until melted and smooth. Remove from heat and add vanilla extract and walnuts, if using.
- Slowly drizzle melted chocolate over marshmallows, gently nudging between the marshmallows as you go, so that the chocolate seeps into all of the cracks.
- Refrigerate until set. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 weeks.
Notes
Nutrition
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I originally shared this recipe December 2014. Updated December 2017 and July 2023 and December 2024.
Fantastic! My new favorite recipe! I love how easy it is too. You’re so right that quartered jumbo marshmallows instead of mini marshmallows is key. A little tedious but worth it. (I appreciate the dipping scissors in water tip; that helped a lot.) My only change was to double the walnuts. Thanks for sharing!
Can I use semi sweet chocolate chips instead of the bakers chocolate? If so how much? Thanks in advance for you reply
That should be fine as long as they are high quality chocolate chips that will melt and not seize. I would use about 1 1/4 cups chocolate chips. 🙂
I used semi-sweet chocolate chips and although it melted just fine, it was really thick and un-pourable. I came back to see what I did wrong and I think for this recipe baking chocolate, as you’ve written in the recipe, is very important. I salvaged what I could but I will definitely try again according to specified ingredients. I love the consistency of yours in the video provided. Thanks for a great recipe!
Hi~how much vanilla and bakers chocolate do you use~? I’m an exact measuring gal…lol
If you look for the recipe card at the end of the post you will see the exact ingredients.
8 oz. baking chocolate
1 tsp. vanilla
Mt Mother used to make this for the holidays but she would mix chopped pecans & drop it on wax paper, she would make different kinds, chocolate, white chocolate & butterscotch? they were so good? I’m going to try putting pretzel pieces instead of pecans & use Mexican vanilla, it’s way better…
Mt Mother used to make this for the holidays but she would mix chopped pecans & drop it on wax paper, she would make different kinds, chocolate, white chocolate & butterscotch? they were so good? I’m going to try putting pretzel pieces instead of pecans & use Mexican vanilla, it’s way better…
So good. So so good! Could be my husband’s all time favorite treat.
Very tasty! I made this on a warm day and had trouble cutting the refrigerated fudge. I popped it in the freezer for about 15 min and was then able to cut it into pieces without tearing it apart. I returned it to the fridge before trying to remove it from the pan. I omitted the nuts , but I’m thinking about stirring in coconut or sprinkling it on for my next batch. The candied cherries would also be good.
Made this today, added walnuts to mine. Super yummy.
It works great.if chocolate is heated on very low, always cones out great.I use maple marshmallows.going ti do sone experiments with grandkids with this level.
I make rocky road every. Chistmas
It was a favorite of my moms
Then my husband and also brothers
I tried this one this year and find it to be the perfect recipe. I add cut in half candied cherries for a surprise on color, taste and texture. Not a whole lot. Walnuts my nutmeat of choice. Small marsallows work fine. Thank you for recipe
My mother used to make this but she made a chocolate brownie type cake made from scratch that all of this was put on top of after baking. The marshmallows were put on after letting the brownie cool some but is still warm which helped in the melting some and then she made the sauce and would pour over the top of it. It was called the Mississippi Mud Cake. Rich and delicious was the only thing to say about it. Drinking a ice cold glass of milk with it made it even better. It definitely is delicious.
Hi Teresa! Loved your story, and I totally love that idea :-)! I have both a Mississippi Mud Cake and Mississippi Mud Brownie recipes on my website–they’re fantastic!