Homemade Rocky Road Ice Cream

• Prep time: 25 minutes
• Cook: 10 minutes
• Chilling time: 10 hours
• Total: 10 hours, 35 minutes
• Servings: 8 servings

Chocolate ice cream flecked with small marshmallows and toasted almonds is the flavor of Rocky Road, a popular classic American ice cream. For good reason, this flavor is so popular that you can find it in almost every ice cream shop in the country!

You can’t stop eating it because the taste of chocolate ice cream, marshmallows, and roasted almonds attracts your spoon.

Rocky Road Ice Cream’s History

Dreyer’s ice cream inventors, William Dryer and Joseph Edy, created the Rocky Road flavor in 1929. Rocky Road’s creation was a significant step towards the abundance of mix-in-studded ice cream flavors available today, as the only traditional ice cream flavors at the time were vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry.

Why Is This Ice Cream Called Rocky Road?

Rocky Road was not just a reference to the marshmallows and almonds that gave the ice cream its texture. 

Since this ice cream was created around the beginning of the Great Depression, its name was meant to evoke the era’s spirit while offering a taste of sweetness and joy to a country reeling from uncertainty and adversity.

What Are Rocky Road Ice Cream’s Ingredients?

We use a custard foundation for the richest result possible while making our handcrafted rocky road ice cream. Melted dark chocolate and Dutch-processed cocoa powder combine to give the base a rich, nuanced chocolate flavor. 

Because we love swirls and prefer the smooth, silky creme to cold, firm marshmallows, we utilize marshmallow creme instead of small marshmallows or cut-up larger marshmallows. The taste profile is completed by roasted salted almonds, which add just the right amount of salt to balance the sweetness of the ice cream.

How To Prepare A Custard Base For Ice Cream

Tempering is a process you’ll use while creating a custard ice cream foundation. In order to do this, whisk beaten egg yolks with a small amount of hot cream mixture first, and then whisk the “tempered” yolks into the remaining hot cream. 

This procedure isn’t meant to cause you stress or produce unnecessary dishes! Tempering is crucial because it keeps the yolks from overheating and curdling as soon as they come into contact with the heated cheese. The custard mixture is cooked to a temperature that thickens and cooks the yolks after the eggs have been tempered.

Read also: Scoop Up Happiness With This Easy Homemade Cookie Butter Ice Cream Recipe

To Make The Best Rocky Road Ice Cream, Use Marshmallow Cream

Keep in mind that marshmallow creme is what you need for this recipe; marshmallow fluff is not the same as marshmallow creme. Since marshmallow creme can be sticky, we heat it in the microwave for a brief period of time so that it can be drizzled and swirled more easily without creating a huge mess.

This is a great flavor for an ice cream sundae or even an ice cream pie, but it also has enough flavor to stand alone. Use your preferred soft vanilla or chocolate biscuits to make ice cream sandwiches. 

Tips For Making Rocky Road Ice Cream

• To guarantee that the eggs reach the proper temperature without fracturing, it is imperative to temper them first. Pour a small amount of the heated cream mixture into the egg yolks gradually using a medium-sized ladle if you have one.

• Marshmallow crème and marshmallow fluff are not the same thing. For this recipe, be sure to get marshmallow creme.

• Just enough heat from a brief microwave moment makes it simple to drizzle and swirl into the ice cream.

• If you whisk the cocoa powder and sugar in a saucepan, then progressively pour in the milk and cream while whisking continuously, the chocolate powder will dissolve more easily in the cream.

• Compared to raw cocoa, Dutch process cocoa powder is darker in colour and tastes distinct. It gives the ice cream base a distinct flavour reminiscent of Oreo cookies. This is one recipe where, despite the flavours being different, you can use natural cocoa powder in its place if that’s what you have. It won’t affect how tasty the ice cream is.

Ingredients

• Two cups of thick cream for whipping
• one cup of whole milk
• 21 grams, or 1/4 cup of Cocoa powder made using the Dutch technique
• Six large egg yolks and 2/3 cup (133 grams) of granulated sugar were divided.
• Half a teaspoon of fine salt
• Two ounces of melted 70% dark chocolate
• 1. half a teaspoon of essence from vanilla
• One 7-ounce jar of marshmallow crème, or 2/3 cup (56 grams) (such as Jet-Puffed)
• Roughly chopped 1/2 cup (85 grams) roasted salted almonds

Steps To Make It

1. Gather the ingredients

2. In a medium saucepan, whisk together the cream, milk, cocoa powder, and 1/3 cup of sugar. Cook on medium heat, whisking often, until steaming.

3. In the meantime, in a large heatproof basin, mix together the egg yolks, remaining 1/3 cup sugar, and salt until smooth.

4. Whisk continuously as you gradually add 1 cup of the heated milk mixture to the egg yolk mixture.

5. Returning to the saucepan, whisk the egg yolk mixture into the remaining heated milk mixture.

6. Melt the chocolate and whisk it into the saucepan of the egg mixture. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the custard reaches 175 F.

7. Take off the heat and transfer the contents into a medium heatproof bowl using a fine-mesh sieve. Add the vanilla extract and stir.

8. To stop a skin from forming, place plastic wrap right on top of the custard’s surface. Allow it to cool slightly, about 30 minutes, then place in the refrigerator and refrigerate until cold through, 6 to 12 hours.

9. As directed by the manufacturer, pour the ice cream mixture into the frozen freezer bowl of an ice cream maker and churn.

10. In a medium bowl that is safe to microwave, place the marshmallow creme. Microwave for 10 to 15 seconds on high, or until softened.

11. Transfer half of the ice cream that has been churned into a 9 x 5 loaf pan.

12. Using a knife or toothpick, immediately drizzle half of the warmed marshmallow creme over the ice cream and gently swirl the creme into the ice cream. Add half of the chopped almonds on top.

13. Spoon the leftover ice cream on top of the nuts and marshmallow creme. Proceed with the leftover marshmallow creme and garnish with the leftover almonds.

For at least four hours, cover and freeze until solid.

Read more: How To Make Jalapeno Ice Cream

How To Store

Rocky Road ice cream can be kept in the freezer for up to three weeks when kept in an airtight container. To prevent the creation of ice crystals, place a sheet of parchment or wax paper immediately on the ice cream’s surface.

Nutrition Facts

Calories            Carbs            Protein            Fats

422kcal               19g                11g                    34g

Special Love Note For Rocky Road Ice Cream Lovers

My dear Rocky Road is interested.

Amid all of the challenges that life brings, you are the best treat I ever had. Our love is a lovely combination of flavors and textures, much like the marshmallow embraces, the nutty crunch of almonds, and the creamy swirls of chocolate found in Rocky Road.

I thank you for every hour we spend together and savor the richness of our friendship with every scoop. My heart feels warm and pleased by your presence, just as this ice cream soothes and pleases the senses. Cheers to us, my sweetheart, loving Rocky Road and all of its glory forever.

FAQ’s

What Makes Up Rocky Road Ice Cream?

The chocolate-flavored ice cream is called Rocky Road. Chocolate ice cream, almonds, and chopped or whole marshmallows are the standard ingredients, albeit there are modifications from the basic flavour.

Which Nuts Are In Rocky Road Ice Cream?

Sharing this delicious chocolate ice cream with almonds and lots of little marshmallows is a timeless pleasure.

What Is The Ice Cream Flavour Rocky?

Rich chocolate ice cream, roasted almonds, and gooey marshmallow swirls.

How Does Rocky Road Taste Like?

Although two of the three ingredients of a traditional Rocky Road are marshmallows and almonds, most people concur that the predominant taste of the ice cream is chocolate. Chocolate is not only a traditional ice cream flavour on its own, but it also serves as the base for Rocky Road.

What Kind Of Dessert Is Rocky Road?

Rocky road is a kind of no-bake slice composed of marshmallows and milk chocolate, with additional components that vary depending on the nation.

Conclusion

Rocky road ice cream is a delicious combination of chewy marshmallows, crunchy nuts, and creamy chocolate ice cream. Make a rich chocolate base first, either from scratch or from a premium mix. 

After the foundation has cooled, mix the micro marshmallows and chopped nuts, like walnuts or almonds. You may choose to add some chocolate chips or pieces for texture.

Enjoy this traditional, luscious delicacy when the mixture has solidified in the freezer. Irresistible contrast in textures and flavours, silky chocolate, crisp almonds, and soft marshmallows combine to produce rocky road ice cream a beloved favourite.