Rocky Road Candy with Walnuts

Rocky Road candy with walnuts and marshmallows is a delightful treat to make for family and friends. Rich chocolate, fluffy marshmallows, and crunchy walnuts are a perfect combination!

eight pieces of rocky road candy with walnuts


Old Fashioned Walnut Rocky Road is a chocolate candy made super delicious with marshmallows and nuts – all ingredients to satisfy your sweet tooth. Williams Sonoma sells something similar for a whopping $34.95 a box. You don’t have to spend that much – our cookies taste just as good and cost a lot less.

This Rocky Road recipe is so easy to make with only three ingredients – chocolate, marshmallows, and walnuts. It tastes wonderful and is perfect for gift giving.

Where was the Original Rocky Road? Australia?

The origin of this candy has been debated, but the earliest mention of it seems to have been in 1853 during the Australian gold rush.

Rocky Road was said to have been created as a way to sell confectionery that had gone off during the long voyage from Europe. Once on dry land in Australia, the spoiled cookies were mixed with cheap chocolate and locally-grown nuts to disguise the less than tasty flavor.

According to this tale, the name came from the rocky road that the gold prospectors had to take to reach the Australian goldfields.

Or, America?

According to this story, Rocky Road Ice Cream was first concocted in 1929 by William Dreyer in California. He made use of some sewing scissors belonging to his wife to cut up some marshmallows and walnuts and add them to chocolate ice cream.

In fact, what he was doing was copying his partner Joseph Edy’s candy creation. Following the 1929 stock market crash, the two men called the flavor Rocky Road – “To give folks something to smile about in the midst of the Great Depression.”

To add to the Rocky Road story mix, Dreyer may have stolen the idea from a friend, George Farren of Fenton’s Creamery. Fenton’s Creamery is still around today.

Rocky Road Ice Cream was first concocted in 1929 by William Dreyer in California. He cut up some marshmallows and walnuts and added them to chocolate ice cream.

Following the stock market crash, the Dreyer brothers called the flavor Rocky Road – “To give folks something to smile about in the midst of the Great Depression.” 

overhead view of rocky road candy with walnuts in a bowl

Tips for Making Rocky Road Candy

  • Used semi-sweet chocolate if you don’t want your candy to be too sweet. Of course, you can use milk or dark chocolate if desired.
  • Try a combo of milk and dark chocolate. It makes the candies super creamy without being too sweet or too rich. 
  • You can use mini marshmallows, but if you only have regular-sized ones on hand, cut them into bite-sized pieces.

How to Melt the Chocolate

Be careful when melting the chocolate. You don’t want it to bake and become clumpy rather than velvety smooth. You can melt the chocolate in the microwave or on your stovetop.

Microwave: Place the chocolate in a large heatproof bowl. Microwave on medium for 45-second intervals, stirring between each interval. Only microwave until the chocolate is about 95% melted, then stir until smooth.

Stovetop: Add water to the bottom of a saucepan. Place a large bowl on top of the pan so that the bottom of the bowl doesn’t touch the water. On low heat, add the chocolate to the bowl and melt while stirring occasionally.

Once the chocolate is melted, allow it to cool slightly, so you don’t melt the marshmallows. Once you’ve made your candy, let it harden at room temperature for about 2-3 hours. You can speed up the process by putting it in the fridge, but sometimes this makes the chocolate turn a funny color. 

If you need a quick batch of cookies, this Rocky Road candy recipe doesn’t require any baking in your oven. You do have to melt the chocolate, but this recipe is quick to make.

You can always have a batch of chocolate and walnut candy on hand to offer to friends when they pop over. The problem will be keeping your family’s fingers away from it long enough so that there’s some left to serve to guests!

I know my pan gets devoured very quickly, and my family members are always waiting for a refill.

rocky road candy with walnuts stacked on parchment paper

An Easy Rocky Road Recipe

If you need a quick batch of candy, this Rocky Road recipe doesn’t require any baking in your oven. You do have to melt the chocolate, but it’s quick to make.

You can always have a batch on hand to offer to friends when they pop over. The problem will be keeping your family’s fingers away from it long enough so that there’s some left to serve to guests!

My rocky road candy with walnuts gets devoured very quickly and my family members are always waiting for a refill.

rocky road candy with walnuts stacked on a wood board

Ingredients

Here’s a list of what you need:

  • Chocolate
  • Large marshmallows
  • Chopped walnuts
large marshmallows, chocolate pieces, and chopped walnuts in bowls

How to Make Rocky Road Candy

  1. Cut marshmallows into quarters.
  2. Lightly spray a baking pan with nonstick spray.
  3. Melt the chocolate.
  4. Layer the bottom of the pan with a third of the melted chocolate.
    melted chocolate on a baking sheet
  5. Sprinkle marshmallows and nuts on top.
  6. Pour remaining melted chocolate on top.
  7. Gently spread chocolate over marshmallows and nuts.
    freshly made walnut rocky road candy on a baking sheet
  8. Let set to cool to room temperature.
    cooled walnut rocky road candy on a baking sheet
  9. Break or cut into pieces.

With its chocolatey base, the fluffiness of the marshmallows, and the crunchiness of the walnuts, this is an irresistible concoction. And, it’s definitely a rocky road to make!

rocky road candy with walnuts stacked on a wood board and in a bowl

Love chocolate? Try these recipes!

Favorite Christmas Treats

Be sure to check out more of my easy candy recipes and the best Christmas recipes to make for your family and friends.

eight pieces of rocky road candy with walnuts

Rocky Road Candy with Walnuts

You are going to love this easy to make chocolate Rocky Road candy with walnuts and marshmallows.
5 from 4 votes
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Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Rocky Road
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 16
Calories: 206kcal

Ingredients

  • 20 ounces chocolate
  • 15 large marshmallows quartered
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Instructions

  • Lightly spray a baking pan with nonstick spray. Layer the bottom of the pan with a third of the melted chocolate.
  • Line pan with marshmallows and pour nuts on top.
  • Pour remaining melted chocolate on top. Gently spread chocolate over marshmallows and nuts.
  • Let it set at room temperature. Break or cut into pieces.

Nutrition

Calories: 206kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 6mg | Potassium: 118mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 18g | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 1.1mg

About Stephanie Manley

I recreate your favorite restaurant recipes, so you can prepare these dishes at home. I help you cook dinner, and serve up dishes you know your family will love. You can find most of the ingredients for all of the recipes in your local grocery store.

Stephanie is the author of CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home, and CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home 2.

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