My festive Christmas Rocky Road is an ideal sweet treat or edible gift. This simple to prepare recipe is a favourite no-bake dessert for chocolate lovers. A delicious dark and milk chocolate base is filled with marshmallows, cherries, coconut and pistachios. The slice is topped with creamy white chocolate and decorated for the festive season.
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Why we love this recipe:
My Christmas Rocky Road is a delicious sweet treat that anyone can make! In fact, it requires very little culinary ability. If you can melt chocolate, you can make this popular slice. And if you have not melted chocolate before, I will tell you how to go about it.
You’ll love this recipe because:
- The slice is no-bake. Simply chop your ingredients, melt the chocolate and mix together. The hardest part is waiting for the slice to set!
- It is a good recipe to make with the whole family.
- This Christmas Rocky Road is ideal to make in advance. Great to have on hand for when guests stop by over the festive season, or you need an edible gift to take to someone’s house!
- It can be decorated to your liking – I have used some red and silver treats to decorate, but crushed candy canes, chocolate shavings or Christmas sprinkles would also work well!
- Of its flexibility – the type of chocolate you use and the fillings can be chosen to your liking. Be sure to try my Easy Rocky Road or White Chocolate Rocky Road also.
- It is perfectly festive – we also love to make Rocky Road at Halloween and Easter.
The key to making rocky road is to have everything prepared before you melt the chocolate. Otherwise, the chocolate may begin to set, making it lumpy and difficult to combine with the other ingredients.
Ingredients in this recipe:
Please see the recipe card further along in the post for exact quantities of ingredients and the full method.
Milk, dark and white chocolate – for the best result, use good quality ingredients. Use chocolate you enjoy eating.
Desiccated coconut – desiccated is dried and finely ground coconut, available in supermarkets. It is not the same as shredded or flaked coconut.
Marshmallows – I use white marshmallows for colour contrast.
Glacé cherries – sometimes known as candied cherries, I use the red ones.
Pistachios – add great texture and colour. If you prefer it to be nut-free you can substitute it with a sweet biscuit/cookie of your choice, broken into small pieces.
Decorations – I have used red M&M’s and silver cachous.
Step by Step Instructions:
- Make sure that your ingredients are prepared for the Christmas Rocky Road before you begin to melt the chocolate. Place the coconut, quartered marshmallows, pistachios and halved glacé cherries into a large bowl.
Line a 18 cm x 13 cm (7 inch x 5 inch) slice tin with non-stick baking paper. - Chop the chocolate to even-size pieces and place into the top of a double boiler or heatproof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water making sure that the bowl doesn’t touch the water and steam does not get into the chocolate.
- Stir with a metal spoon or spatula occasionally until the chocolate has almost melted. Remove it from the heat; the residual heat will melt the remaining chocolate. Give it a final stir.
- When the chocolate has melted, let it cool for a minute or two then add to the bowl and stir well to combine the ingredients. If it is too warm it may begin to melt the marshmallows.
- Add the mixture to the prepared tin and press down to flatten with a metal spatula or spoon. Place in the fridge for 30 minutes.
- In a clean bowl, add your white chocolate pieces and melt.
- Top the slightly chilled slice with the melted white chocolate and decorate.
- Place in the refrigerator for 2 hours or until set and then cut it into 10 pieces.
Tips for Success and FAQs:
As always, for the best result, it is important to use good quality chocolate. Choose one that you enjoy eating – it will make all the difference.
Moisture is the enemy when melting chocolate as it can cause the chocolate to seize. Care must be taken to ensure that not a drop of water gets into the bowl. To stir the chocolate, I recommend a metal spatula or spoon as wooden spoons can retain moisture.
If some water, even a very small amount, gets into the chocolate when it is melting, it will transform from a smooth, flowing mixture to one which is thick and grainy and not able to be used for this recipe.
My preference is the stovetop method. A double boiler gives the best control over the heat. When using a double boiler, ie, a bowl placed over a saucepan of water which has just begun to simmer, care must be taken to ensure that not a drop of water gets into the bowl or the chocolate will seize. Further, the bowl must not touch the water in the saucepan. To stir the chocolate, I use a metal spatula or spoon. Wooden spoons can retain moisture. For the best result you should not rush the process. Chocolate melts readily at a lower temperature than you may expect. Just think of what happens to it on a hot day. A high heat may cause it to burn.
You can also use a microwave. Melt the chocolate in 20 second increments, stirring occasionally. Keep an eye on it to ensure that it does not overcook.
Heat a large knife under hot water before slicing. This will help the knife to move more easily through the chocolate. It is easier to cut if you remove it from the fridge 15-30 minutes before you cut it.
You can store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. I like to put a few sheets of kitchen paper in the bottom of the container to help absorb any moisture.
More delicious recipes for you to try:
If you’re like us, and cannot resist a delicious chocolate treat or are looking for some more edible gift ideas, you’ll love some of these other favourite recipes:
- Chilli Chocolate Clusters
- Candy Cane Chocolate Bark
- Cranberry Pistachio Bark
- Decadent Chocolate Brownies
- Chocolate Tiffin
- Hedgehog Slice
- Or check out our complete collection of chocolate recipes here.
I hope you will love our family favourite treat! This Christmas Rocky Road is the perfect addition to your festive table. Please let me know in the comments below when you have given it a try.
Alex xx
Christmas Rocky Road
Ingredients
For the base:
- 200 g (7 oz) milk chocolate – cut into even pieces See Note 1
- 100 g (3.5 oz) dark chocolate – cut into even pieces
- ¼ cup (20 g) desiccated coconut
- 1 cup (80 g) white marshmallows – quartered See Note 2
- ⅓ cup pistachios
- ½ cup glace red cherries – halved
For the topping:
- 100 g (3.5 oz) white chocolate
- 2 tablespoon red m&m's
- 1 teaspoon silver cachous
Recipe Measurements:
For accuracy, we recommend weighing your ingredients. This will produce the best results.
Instructions
- Line an 18 cm x 13 cm (7 inch x 5 inch) slice tin with baking paper.
- Place the desiccated coconut, quartered marshmallows, pistachios and cherries in a bowl.
- Melt the milk and dark chocolate: place the chopped chocolate pieces in a bain-marie/double boiler or heatproof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water, making sure the bowl doesn’t touch the water. Stir with a metal spoon or spatula until the chocolate has almost melted. Remove from the heat – the residual heat will melt the remaining chocolate.
- Once the chocolate has melted, leave it for a couple of minutes to cool slightly. See Note 3.Once cooled slightly, pour into the bowl with the marshmallows, coconut, pistachios and cherries.
- Stir well so everything is covered in the chocolate.Pour into the prepared tin and flatten down with a spatula or metal spoon. Place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- In a clean bowl, melt your white chocolate. Top the slightly chilled rocky road with the white chocolate and decorate with your toppings.
- Place in the fridge for 2 hours or until set.
- Cut into 10 pieces using a warm sharp knife. It’s easier to cut if you take it out of the fridge 15-30 minutes before you cut it.Store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
- Use the best quality chocolate that you can – this will produce the best result.
- If using regular marshmallows, cut them into quarters. Alternatively, use mini marshmallows.
- Leave the chocolate to cool for a minute or two before pouring over the marshmallows. If the chocolate is too hot, they can begin to melt.
- If you prefer, you can melt the chocolate in the microwave – melt at 20 second intervals, stirring after each one.
- Please note, the nutritional information is based on the Christmas Rocky Road being cut into 10 pieces. The nutritional information is an estimate only.
Nutrition Estimate:
Nutritional Disclaimer:
The nutritional information is an estimate only, and is derived from online calculators. For accurate results, we recommend calculating the nutritional information based on the ingredients and brands you use.
Roselyn
This is such a pretty and festive Christmas treat! My niece and I had so much fun decorating these together. We used candy snowflakes, some glitter sprinkles, and red and green M&Ms. I followed the recipe exactly and had no trouble melting my chocolate using the double boiler method. Follow the tips for how to get clean slices because they really helped!
Alexandra
Hi Roselyn, I am so pleased to hear that you and your niece had great fun decorating the Christmas Rocky Road. Your decorations sound terrific. 🙂
Toni
Such a perfect holiday treat!! I love how easy it is to make!
Alexandra
Hi Toni, I am so pleased that you enjoyed the Christmas Rocky Road. It is a festive tradition in our home. 🙂
Linda
Delicious. I added some extra cherries on top instead of the lollies, but otherwise followed the recipe. Will be making for gifts.
Alexandra
Hi Linda, I am so pleased that you enjoyed the Christmas Rocky Road and plan to make some as gifts. Adding extra cherries is a great idea! 🙂
Jean
Love this as an edible gift idea to friends and delicious too!
Alexandra
Hi Jean, it makes a great edible gift, it is always well received. 🙂
Patricia
These came out so gorgeous and perfect for Christmas!! I was able to get clean slices by running my knife under hot water like you recommended. My kids loved this and had fun adding sprinkles to the top. I’m making these again to gift for Christmas. 🙂
Alexandra
Hi Patricia, thank you for your lovely comments on the Christmas Rocky Road. I am so pleased that you enjoyed it and will be making it again. Sprinkles on top would make it extra festive. 🙂