Creamy Rich Rocky Road Ice Cream Recipe

This easy recipe for creamy rich rocky road ice cream is chocked full of chocolate flavor with marshmallows, chocolate chips, and almonds. A true summertime ice cream classic.

Save yourself a trip to the ice cream shop and make up a batch of this homemade ice cream instead. It really isn’t as difficult as you think, it doesn’t require an ice cream maker and it tastes super fresh and creamy, and will most likely cost way less.

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Rocky Road ice cream can be eaten in an ice cream cone, as a chocolate ice cream sundae or you can use it for making homemade ice cream sandwiches. Any way you eat it, ice cream is always a big hit. Perfect for those warm summer nights and weekends. This rocky road ice cream keeps well in the freezer in an airtight container for up to 2 months.

If you are looking for more ice cream recipes try this Homemade Peach Ice Cream, this Easy Old Fashioned Vanilla Ice Cream, or these M&Ms Cookies Ice Cream Sandwiches.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe For Rocky Road Ice Cream

• Rich creamy taste
• Simple to follow recipe
• No ice cream maker needed
• Easily modified

Equipment Needed to Make This Ice Cream

• Large bowl
• Hand mixer or stand mixer
• Bread pan

Ingredients for Rocky Road Ice Cream

• 16 oz heavy cream
• 14 oz sweetened condensed milk
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/3 cup mini marshmallows
• 1/4 cup chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup chopped almonds or sliced almonds or toasted almonds

Though this recipe for rocky road ice cream calls for the traditional mix-ins of chocolate chips, marshmallows, and almonds, you can easily switch things up. Use different kinds of chocolate chips, nuts, or whatever else you have on hand. No need to use an ice cream machine either, this ice cream thickens up in the freezer in 8 hours or overnight.

How To Make Rocky Road Ice Cream in Six Easy Steps

It’s truly not that hard to make a delicious bowl of ice cream all by yourself! These easy steps make it the perfect treat to keep on hand all summer long whenever you need a chocolate fix!

Step One

Add the heavy cream to a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, and beat on high for 3 minutes.

Step Two

Add sweetened condensed milk, and beat on high for 1 minute.

Step Three

Slowly mix in cocoa powder or dark cocoa powder.

Step Four

Add marshmallows, chocolate chips, and roasted almonds, then fold in.

Step Five

Pour into a bread pan, and cover with saran wrap.

Step Six

Freeze for at least 8 hours, or overnight, before serving.

Put it on your favorite waffle cone and enjoy!

It’s literally the best summertime treat! What’s your favorite ice cream?

Tips and Tricks

• Place the bread pan in the freezer before you plan to make the ice cream so it’s already cold when you pour the ice cream mixture into it.
• Note that sweetened condensed milk is not the same as evaporated milk. This recipe will not work with evaporated milk, so buy the condensed milk.
• If you can’t find mini marshmallows you can use full-size ones just cut them into smaller pieces.

Variations

• Change up the add-ins and use peanut butter chips or white chocolate chips instead of chocolate chips. Mix in raisins, pretzel chunks, or chocolate-covered nuts instead of plain nuts.
• Mix in a teaspoon of espresso powder or as much as you’d like for a coffee flavor.
• Change up the nuts and use walnuts, pistachios, or peanuts. Or to make the ice cream nut free use pumpkin or sunflower seeds.
• Omit the cocoa powder and add pureed strawberries for a strawberry-based rocky road ice cream.
• Top it with some homemade whipped cream and a cherry on top for added fun!

FAQs

What is in rocky road ice cream?

Rocky road ice cream usually has marshmallows and almonds in a chocolate-flavored ice cream base.

Do you need an ice cream machine to make ice cream?

No, you don’t need an ice cream maker to make this rocky road ice cream. The ice cream mixture is frozen overnight in the freezer so it can become solid.

What kind of nuts are used in rocky road ice cream?

One of the original recipes may have used walnuts but this recipe calls for almonds. Any kind of nuts will work though.

Can I make vanilla rocky road ice cream instead of chocolate?

Yes, if you want a vanilla-based ice cream you can leave out the cocoa powder and add a touch of vanilla extract instead.

Do I need to add eggs to rocky road ice cream?

Some rocky road ice cream recipes call for egg yolks to be added but this recipe does not require eggs.

History of Rocky Road

Rocky road ice cream was created in Oakland, California around 1929. Two men lay claim to its creation and oddly enough both of their recipes had a chocolate ice cream base with add ins. The notion of adding elements like chocolate chips or marshmallows to ice cream was a first in the ice cream industry but created such a great-tasting ice cream experience.

The name rocky road was chosen as a symbol of the difficult times people were experiencing at that time and as a reference to the chunks or ‘rocks’ the ice cream contained.