Everyone loves this easy rocky road recipe! This is my go-to version that I make every single December. With rich dark chocolate and loaded with mini marshmallows, glace cherries, and crunchy pistachios, it’s a family favourite that’s perfect for sharing at home, taking to family events, or simply enjoying whenever you need a sweet treat.
I consider it one of my core values that when December hits, you should always have a simple sweet treat in the fridge to grab. I’m thinking rum balls, ferrero rocher, or of course this easy rocky road.
My husband get’s so excited whenever I make this. I can usually find him walking back from the fridge with a grin, so happy to have grabbed another piece. Rocky road just makes chocolate better!
Now yes there are a lot of rocky road recipes out there, but this is my version and since you’re here, let me tell you why it’s the best. I always add desiccated coconut which gives extra flavour and texture to the chocolate that is insanely good, and I also use pistachios. I’ve been using pistachios in my rocky road since before the pistachio craze so I am sorry if they are now super expensive, but it really is delicious and I highly recommend trying it.
This really is a super simple recipe that can be flexible based on what you like. It’s traditionally enjoyed at Christmas or Easter as a treat, but really, I think it’s appropriate any time of year when you want some extra special chocolate!
You’ll Also Love: Rocky Road Cookies
Key Ingredients
This rocky road recipe uses just 5 ingredients, but you can easily use this as a base recipe and swap the add-ins based on what you like.
Note all ingredients and their quantities are laid out in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Dark chocolate – I use a good quality dark chocolate that contains a higher percentage of cacao and no added milk making it dairy free and vegan. The general rule of the best chocolate to use for rocky road is to use one that you like to eat, therefore skip any baking chocolate and choose your favourite block.
- Desiccated coconut – the texture that the desiccated coconut adds to the chocolate is delicious. It doesn’t add a strong coconut flavour but I do think it makes this rocky road extra good. Shredded coconut wont work the same as it contains too much moisture.
- Pistachios – any nuts are fine to use. Peanuts are more traditional, but I love the flavour of pistachios. Plus they compliment the cherries to give the rocky road a festive theme. I usually use unsalted but salted can also work for that sweet/salty flavour combination.
- Glace cherries – it’s not Christmas without a packet of glace cherries! You can also swap with your favourite raspberries lollies.
- Marshmallows – I love using the mini ones, but you can also just chop larger ones in half. If you need this rocky road to be vegan, remember to look for a brand that is made without gelatin such as Dandies.
Step-By-Step Instructions
I cannot stress enough just how simple this recipe is to make. You’ll need a large microwave safe bowl and a 20cm (8 inch) square baking pan.
Step 1: Start by melting your chocolate. I like to melt the chocolate in the microwave as I find it’s super easy, but you can use the double boiler method over a saucepan of water on the stove if you prefer.
To melt the chocolate, break apart the chocolate blocks into evenly sized pieces and place in a large glass bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds and then stir with a metal spoon. Microwave it again for 20-30 seconds and stir again. Depending on your microwave you may need one or two more bursts before the chocolate becomes thick and glossy. Just make sure you always stir the chocolate between bursts in the microwave to ensure an even melt without any burnt bits.
Step 2: Once you have your melted chocolate, it’s time to mix through your add-ins.
Step 3: Pour the chocolate mixture it into a square baking pan lined with baking paper and set aside in the refrigerator to chill for a couple of hours or until the chocolate has set.
Step 4: Once the chocolate has set, lift the rocky road out of the pan using the baking paper and slice into squares with a sharp knife. It’s now ready to enjoy or store for later.
Storage Instructions: Store any remaining pieces in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep for a few weeks just like regular chocolate however I can’t ever see it lasting that long.
If you like the idea of rocky road but want something a little different, try this homemade rocky road ice cream!
Recipe FAQs
Rocky road is a slice that’s made by melting chocolate and mixing through marshmallows, fruits, nuts, coconut, or other sweets and then slicing it up into bars after the chocolate has set. It’s a traditional treat that is enjoyed all throughout the year, but especially on special occasions such as Easter or Christmas.
Yes! You can add your favourite extras like dried cranberries, other nuts, or even crushed biscuits which is common in the UK version of rocky road.
Yes you can use any chocolate you like! I love dark chocolate as being dairy free I find it tastes so much better than any dairy free milk chocolate varieties, but the key is to use a chocolate that you like to eat.
If you’re not dairy free, then you have a lot more options for chocolate to choose from! Just stay clear of the cooking chocolate and use something from the lolly aisle.
If you do make this recipe, please be sure to leave a comment and ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating below! And tag any of your creations on Instagram with @eightforestlane as I would love to see.
More homemade treats:
Chocolate Coated Honeycomb
Vegan Biscoff Fudge
Vegan Chocolate Truffles
Chocolate Puff Pastry Christmas Tree
Easy Rocky Road Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 x 170-180 gram blocks dark chocolate dairy free
- ¼ cup desiccated coconut
- ⅓ cup pistachios
- ½ cup glace cherries
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
Instructions
- Line a 20 cm (8-inch) square baking pan with baking paper and set aside.
- Break the chocolate into small pieces and place in a large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 20-30 second bursts, stirring thoroughly with a metal spoon between each, until the chocolate is completely melted and smooth.
- Add the coconut, pistachios, cherries, and marshmallows to the melted chocolate. Stir gently to combine, making sure everything is evenly coated.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and smooth the top with the back of the spoon so it’s evenly distributed.
- Place in the fridge for at least 3 hours, or until the chocolate has fully set.
- Lift the rocky road out of the pan using the baking paper and slice into squares with a sharp knife. Serve or store in an airtight container in the fridge.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is provided as a guide only and is calculated using automated online tools, therefore we cannot guarantee the accuracy. We encourage you to make your own calculations based on the actual ingredients used in your recipe.
This recipe was originally published in December 2020 and has been updated in 2025 to include a clearer, more detailed recipe, more helpful information and new photos.
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