This Homemade Rocky Road Ice Cream is incredibly rich, so be warned. This is not some cheap type of ice cream that you can eat a gallon of in one sitting.
My sister loves Rocky Road Ice Cream, so every year, on or around her birthday, I make her a batch from scratch! In my opinion, this is the best type to gorge on because you get to make sure that all of the ingredients are just the way you like them.
I use real marshmallows instead of Fluff, I use real chocolate chips instead of teensey-tiny specks of chocolate, and I always make sure to include dry-roasted peanuts. Do you know how many versions try to sneak in almonds instead? In my opinion, the only thing better than a dry-roasted peanut would be some Goobers, but sadly, I didn’t have any on hand.
This version of Rocky Road is incredibly rich, so be warned. This is not some cheap type of ice cream that you can eat a gallon of in one sitting. It’s best enjoyed in a fancy dish, sitting outside, all by yourself – no screaming kids, no meowing cats, no husband either. This Rocky Road is all about YOU!
Happy (Belated) Birthday Daniele! xo.
FYI: I live and die by my Cuisinart ice cream machine . It’s incredibly easy to use and a great tool for newbies. I received mine as a wedding shower gift in 2003 and it still works!!
HOMEMADE ROCKY ROAD ICE CREAM
Makes approximately 1 quart.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup mini-marshmallows (or big marshmallows cut into tiny pieces)
- 1/4 – 1/2 cup dry-roasted peanuts (or Goobers)
Directions:
Step 1: In a mixer, (I heart my KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer), beat the sugar into the eggs until thickened and pale yellow. Beat in the cocoa and blend until smooth.
Step 2: Bring the milk to a boil in a heavy medium saucepan. With the food processor running, slowly pour the hot milk into the chocolate mixture through the feed tube. Process until well blended. Pour the entire mixture back into the pan and place over low heat. Stir constantly with a whisk or wooden spoon until the custard thickens slightly. Be careful not to let the mixture boil or the eggs will scramble. Remove from the heat and pour the hot chocolate custard through a strainer into a large, clean bowl.
Step 3: Allow the chocolate custard to cool slightly, then stir in the cream and vanilla.
Step 4: Cover and refrigerate until cold or overnight. (My kids have never let me chill anything overnight, so I speed up the cooling process with an ice bath. Just make sure your mixture is completely chilled before adding to the ice cream machine.)
Step 5: Stir the chilled chocolate custard, and then freeze in 1 or 2 batches in your ice cream machine according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Step 6: When the ice cream is semi-frozen, slowly add 1 cup of mini-marshmallows, 1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips, 1/4 – 1/2 cup dry-roasted peanuts (or Goobers) and let the ice cream machine mix it in.
Step 7: When finished, the ice cream will be soft but ready to eat. For firmer ice cream, transfer to a freezer-safe container and freeze at least 2 hours.
*This recipe is adapted from The Ultimate Ice Cream Book by Bruce Weinstein.
Happy Eating,
Denine
Oh I love rocky road! This looks good.
Me too, Kat!
i made ice cream once in an ice cream machine. it wasn’t my favorite. this looks amazing
I swear by the Bruce Weinstein cookbook – he taught me everything I know about making ice cream. If you ever get the chance to buy it – or take it out from library – do! It’s a winner. 🙂
I love that you don’t take shortcuts with your ingredients. It sounds super tasty!
Hi Liz, Yes, we’ve come a long way with our quest for healthier living. I used to love Goobers – luckily, I can’t find them anymore. LOL!
Oh that sounds so amazing! My son’s favorite is rocky road, we may have to make this!
I love making ice cream with our kids. They get so excited to see the original ingredients turn into something fun – like ice cream!
That looks sooo amazing!
Thanks Brandy. It’s really decadent, so it lasts!
I was just thinking about what ice cream flavor I want to make next! I think I know now, yum.
Oooh – you make ice cream too? What are your favorite flavors?
Holy cow this looks amazing! Ice cream is my weakness!
Thanks Kimberly – it’s mine too…
Your recipe is the perfect excuse to get an ice cream maker! Looks so delicious.
I updated the post to include the link to the one we use. It’s a plain Jane Cuisinart one – I got it in 2003v and it STILL works!
oh, yum! I dont care for stuff in my ice cream, but the chocolate custard sounds yummy!
I usually like mine plain too – but rocky road is a treat not to be missed!
mmmmm, looks so deliciously decadent. These are the types of things that she will long remember you for. What a good sister.
Ha – we bake/cook for each other on our birthdays. She makes a mean walnut cake!
Rocky Road from SCRATCH?! Amazing! My husband would love it!
It is really tasty – do you own a machine? I love ours.
OMGOSH! Why is this not in my face right NOW!? Loooooooove!
It’s soooo yummy!
We have an ice cream maker that needs to be utilized more this summer! Rocky Road sounds so good!
We use it at least twice a month, if not more. Ours needs to freeze for 24-hours between cycles, or else the ice cream never sets up properly.
Yum! I love chocolate anything. That looks really good.
Haha, me too. I have a bit of a chocolate problem…though I’ve mostly moved on to 75% cacao now. 🙂
I’ve never had rocky road flavor before, I see it at the store but never actually tried it but it looks super yummy though.
I love rocky road…I don’t eat marshmallows very often, but in this ice cream, they just sing!
Mmm, looks delicious!
Homemade ice cream really is delicious. I’ll take it over store-bought any time!
Gah, I’ve got to try homemade ice cream. I love rocky road, too!
It seems overwhelming, but it’s really not. You just can’t be yapping on the phone while the custard is heating up or you’ll end up with scrambled eggs! Ahem, not that I’ve ever done that before… 😉
You are the best sis ever! Next time drop it off when the kids aren’t around. I hate hiding in the basement eating my birthday ice cream!
Dani
Haha. It’s almost that time of year again. You better pick a flavor!!