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This Easy Rocky Road recipe is the ultimate no-bake treat for chocolate lovers. Loaded with fluffy marshmallows, crunchy pecans, and rich semi-sweet chocolate, these bars take less than 30 minutes to prep. Whether you call it rocky road fudge or rocky road bars, this 5 ingredient recipe delivers a perfect balance of textures that will have everyone coming back for seconds!
Who are my rocky road fans!? I am totally team nuts, marshmallows, and chocolate, and these no bake bars are the best way to get that rocky road fix!
What makes this the best rocky road recipe is the combination of high-quality chocolate and sweetened condensed milk. Unlike traditional fudge that can be finicky, this version is foolproof and sets up perfectly every time. I’ve refined the ratio of add-ins to chocolate so that every single bite is packed with a medley of soft marshmallows and nutty crunch, making it the perfect quick dessert for potlucks or holiday gifting.
What are the different types of Rocky Road?
- USA: Milk chocolate + marshmallows + walnuts/almonds/pecans.
- United Kingdom: Dark chocolate + biscuits + raisins + golden syrup.
- Australia: Milk chocolate + marshmallows + coconut + glacé cherries + peanuts.
How do you make easy rocky road? Melt 12oz chocolate chips and 2 tbsp butter with one can of sweetened condensed milk until smooth. Remove from heat and stir in 2 cups of pecans and a 10.5oz bag of mini marshmallows. Spread into a lined 9×13 pan and chill for at least 2 hours until firm.
Ingredients for Easy Rocky Road Bars
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips or milk chocolate chips are the best but you can also use dark or bittersweet chocolate.
- Unsalted butter to help melt the chocolate and is the secret to clean cutting without cracking. You can substitute salted butter if needed.
- Sweetened condensed milk, not the fat free kind. The fat and proteins in the regular can of condensed milk are needed to help the rocky road recipe firm up.
- The traditional American version of Rocky Road uses pecans, walnuts, or almonds; for more International variations see below. I’m partial to pecans, which is shown in the photos, but you can use any kind of nut.
- For the most professional flavor, always toast your pecans in a dry pan for 3–5 minutes before adding them to the chocolate. This extra step adds a deep, smoky crunch that balances the sweetness of the marshmallows.
- Mini marshmallows are a requirement for all rocky road. Minis are easier to stir into the batter as well.
Click to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions. See below the recipe card for even more information: process shots, variations, FAQ and more.
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Expert Tips for Slicing and Storing
- Add a pinch of salt to balance out the sugar.
- Always melt chocolate on 50% power in a microwave safe bowl to avoid scorching or seizing.
- Remember to use full fat (regular) sweetened condensed milk NOT fat-free.
- Store Rocky Road in an airtight container for up to a week at room temperature or two weeks in the fridge.
- You can freeze rocky road candy for up to 3 months.
Easy Rocky Road Bars Recipe
Recipe Video
Ingredients
- 2 cups (340g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon (14g) unsalted butter
- 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk (regular, not fat-free)
- 2 ½ cups coarsely chopped pecans
- 1 (10 ounce) bag mini marshmallows
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Line a 9×13-inch pan with foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
- Place chocolate chips and butter in a large bowl. Heat on 50% power for 1 minute then stir. Continue heating at 50% power in 30 second increments, stirring between each, until melted and smooth.
- Stir in sweetened condensed milk. Then stir in nuts and marshmallows and pinch of salt.
- Pour into prepared pan. Chill until firm then cut into squares.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Recipe Notes
• Use any kind of nut in place of the pecans
• Omit nuts and use chopped graham crackers
• Use milk chocolate instead of semi-sweet Adapted from: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/22730/rocky-road-candies/
Recipe Nutrition
How to Make Rocky Road Step-by-Step
- Prepare your pan: First, line a 9×13” pan with foil and spray the foil with cooking spray.
- Melt Chocolate: Place the chocolate chips and butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat it on 50% power for one minute and stir. Heat it again for 30 seconds and stir again. Repeat this until the chocolate is melted and smooth.
- Stir: Add the sweetened condensed milk to the melted chocolate and stir to combine. Mix in the nuts and marshmallows.
- Press: Pour the rocky road mixture into the prepared pan and chill it until the bars are firm. Once firm, slice into bars and serve. Or, you can keep them in the refrigerator for up to a week.
What is in Traditional Rocky Road
While everyone agrees that Rocky Road must be a “bumpy” combination of chocolate and marshmallows, the definition of traditional depends entirely on where you are in the world.
- The American Classic: In the United States, traditional Rocky Road is most famous as an ice cream flavor. As a candy bar or dessert square, it typically sticks to three core ingredients: milk chocolate, mini marshmallows, and walnuts, pecans, or almonds.
- The British Style (Tiffin): In the UK, Rocky Road is often referred to as “Tiffin.” It is more biscuit-heavy, using crushed digestive biscuits for crunch, along with raisins or sultanas and a dash of golden syrup in the chocolate base for a silkier texture.
- The Australian Original: Many food historians trace Rocky Road back to 1853 Australia. The Aussie style is the most loaded version, featuring shredded coconut, glacé cherries (or Turkish delight), and roasted peanuts.
FAQs
If your chocolate seized up, it means you might have got some water in it. When you are melting the chocolate, it’s important to use a dry bowl and spatula or spoon. Also, be sure to set the microwave to 50% power, so the chocolate doesn’t scorch.
Yes, you can melt it with the butter in a saucepan over low heat. Stir it frequently as it melts.
If you don’t like pecans try walnuts, almonds, macadamia nuts, or even peanuts. Just roughly chop them before mixing them into the chocolate.
Yes, feel free to omit them! Sometimes I make them without nuts and mix in the same amount of chopped graham crackers.
There are a lot of variations depending on where you’re from! In the US, people think of rocky road ice cream, which is made with chocolate ice cream, almonds or walnuts, and marshmallows. In Britain, traditional rocky road is a type of bar that has chocolate, nuts, coconut, and marshmallows. In Australia, they often add cherries.
There are a few origin stories – the most common one is that it was named for people who traveled to gold fields. Many companies claim they invented rocky road, so it’s not clear how and why it got its name.
Yes, a 50/50 mix of milk chocolate and dark chocolate chips is my personal favorite for a balanced flavor profile.
If you skip the condensed milk or oil, the chocolate sets very firmly. Try dipping your knife in hot water and wiping it dry between each cut to help it glide through.
Did you leave out sugar in this recipe? I thought the bars should’ve been sweeter.
Hi Judy, this recipe does not call for sugar as the other ingredients add sweetness. Feel free to give some of the other bars a try, that may be a little sweeter and to your taste! 🙂
I only have regular butter can I use it I don’t have unsalted
Yes that’s fine!
User simple recipe. If you like rocky road this is surely a good one. I love candy and enjoy making it . Have fun I did! Merry Christmas Everybody!
Does the chocolate go back to its original firmness or does the addition of butter and sweetened condensed milk leave it a more soft consistency?
It’s firm but soft enough to slice. Not fudge like, not hard chocolate. Somewhere in between
Of course it stayes soft for around a wee( week an a half( max) then gets dried out . If you melt chocolate get it to temp. After mixing your butter before condensed milk and then add your con. milk. Temp again before adding marshmallows and nuts . It’ll be great . ( old fashion way , it get sugars to a soft ball in the cup.) ok boil sugars or just too a boil, then take a table spoonish of cooked sugars and place into a C cup of OLD Water! Then with fingers try and make a soft ball with
Cooked syrup you just make amd placed into ice or super “old water in cup.!! That’s it. Good luck!!
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