These Rocky Road Brownies are a decadently sweet, salty, and rich treat that combines fudge brownies with marshmallows, chocolate, and nuts. It doesn’t get any better than this!
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Most people cling to brownie box mix – but that doesn’t have to be the case! These brownies are super easy to whip together with ingredients you probably already have on hand!
There’s just nothing like homemade desserts! For more family favorites, check out my buttermilk brownies and brownie pudding recipes. They’re so tasty! Or these homemade sweet potato brownies and marshmallow brownies will also win you over!
This recipe was cut out of a magazine by my grandma and found in her recipe box. It appears to be a General Mills recipe.
Why I Love This Recipe
- Classic Combo: Who doesn’t love Rocky Road ice cream? This recipe combines those flavors with another favorite – brownies! It just doesn’t get any better than this.
- Surprisingly Simple: This brownie recipe is so simple, that you can whip it up even if you’re a beginner! Plus, you’ll get delicious results every time. Your family will love it!
- Made from Scratch: There’s just nothing like homemade desserts, and these rocky road brownies are made entirely from scratch! It’s super easy and tasty!
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Key Ingredients
- Chocolate Chips: These will be melted with the butter to form a rich, chocolatey base for our brownies.
- Butter: It will be melted with the chocolate chips and also used to grease the baking pan, adding a delicious, buttery flavor to the brownies.
- All-Purpose Flour: This is the main dry ingredient that gives the brownies structure. It’s important to measure it accurately for the best results.
- Granulated Sugar: It sweetens the brownies and also helps to give them a slightly crisp outer layer.
- Salt: A pinch of salt will enhance the chocolate flavor and balance the sweetness of the other ingredients.
- Vanilla Extract: It will add a warm, sweet flavor to the brownies that pair perfectly with the chocolate.
- Eggs: They will bind all the other ingredients together and also add moisture to the brownies.
- Mini Marshmallows: These will be scattered over the brownie batter before baking, and will turn golden and gooey in the oven, adding a deliciously chewy texture to the brownies.
- Peanuts: They will add a wonderful crunch and a nutty flavor to the brownies, complementing the sweetness of the chocolate and marshmallows.
Equipment
- Large Bowl – You’ll need a large microwave-safe bowl to melt the chocolate chips and butter, and to mix the brownie batter.
- 9×9-inch Pan – This is the perfect size for baking your brownies. Make sure it’s ungreased so the batter doesn’t stick.
How to Make Rocky Road Brownies
Preparation
To start, preheat your oven to 375˚ F. This will make sure that it’s at the right temperature when you’re ready to bake your brownies.
Step 1 – Melt the Chocolate and Butter
In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine ½ cup of chocolate chips and butter. Pop it in the microwave and melt them together on high for one minute. Once done, remove the bowl from the microwave and stir the mixture until the chocolate is fully melted and smooth.
Step 2 – Add the Dry Ingredients
Next, add the flour, sugar, baking powder, vanilla, and salt to the melted chocolate mixture. Stir until all the ingredients are well mixed.
Step 3 – Incorporate the Eggs
Now, it’s time to add the eggs. First, add one egg and whisk it into the chocolate mixture until it’s well incorporated. Then, add the second egg and whisk it in by hand until you have a sticky batter.
Step 4 – Bake the Brownie Base
Spread this batter into an ungreased 9×9 baking pan. Pop it in the preheated oven and bake it for 15 minutes.
Step 5 – Add the Rocky Road Goodness
After 15 minutes, remove the pan from the oven. Now, in this order, sprinkle the marshmallows, nuts, and ½ cup of chocolate chips over the partially baked brownies.
Step 6 – Final Bake and Cool
Once your rocky road toppings are in place, put the pan back in the oven and bake for an additional 15 minutes. After baking, remove the brownies from the oven and let them cool for at least an hour. This will make it easier to slice them into delicious, gooey, rocky road brownies. Enjoy!
Expert Tip
To make the best Rocky Road Brownies, use elbow grease to really whisk the eggs into the batter until it’s shiny and there’s no evidence of the egg. This will give your brownies the perfect fudge-like texture.
Recipe Variations
- Omit the Nuts: If you’re not a fan of peanuts, feel free to leave them out of this recipe. You’ll still get the delicious combination of chocolate and marshmallows in every bite.
- Use Different Nuts: While the recipe calls for peanuts, you can easily swap them out for your favorite nuts. Try walnuts or pecans for a different flavor.
- Swirl Melt Chocolate: Instead of sprinkling the additional chocolate chips on top of the brownies, try swirling some melted peanut butter over the top for a deliciously nutty twist.
What to Serve With
- For a classic dessert presentation, serve these Rocky Road Brownies with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The creamy, cool ice cream is the perfect contrast to the rich, fudge brownies.
- If you’re hosting a brunch, these brownies make a great addition to the dessert spread. Pair them with a strong cup of coffee for a mid-morning treat.
- Take these brownies to the next level by drizzling them with a homemade chocolate sauce. It adds an extra layer of chocolatey goodness that all chocolate lovers will appreciate.
- If you’re making these for a kids’ party, you can have fun with the presentation. Serve them on a stick, like a lollipop, for a treat that’s easy to eat and less messy.
Recipe FAQs
These brownies are named after the ice cream flavor, which traditionally includes chocolate, marshmallows, and nuts. In this recipe, the brownie base is topped with miniature marshmallows, peanuts, and chocolate chips, giving it the rocky road twist.
No, you don’t. The recipe specifically instructs to spread the batter into an ungreased 9×9 baking pan. This is to give the brownies their signature texture, so make sure to follow the instructions.
The brownies are done when the marshmallows are puffed and golden, and the chocolate chips on top are starting to melt. This is usually after the additional 15 minutes of baking with the marshmallows and toppings.
These are perfect when made the day before because of how long it takes to cool the brownies. You can of course serve these warm, but for a nice cut for serving, making them as directed the day before so they have plenty of time to cool is ideal.
Storing and Reheating
- Storing: Once your Rocky Road Brownies have cooled, cut them into squares and store them in an airtight container. They can be kept at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- Freezing: I do not recommend freezing these brownies as the marshmallows can become chewy and lose their fluffy texture once thaw.
More Brownie Recipes You’ll Enjoy
Serving Size
- What to Expect: This Rocky Road Brownie recipe yields a deliciously rich 9×9-inch pan of brownies to make 12 small brownies.
- How to Scale: If you’re planning to serve a larger crowd, you can easily double the recipe and follow the instructions as directed. Use a larger baking pan. Keep in mind that you may need to extend the baking time by a few minutes to ensure the center is fully cooked.
Rocky Road Brownies
Ingredients
Brownie Base
- 1/2 Cup semi sweet chocolate chips divided
- ½ Cup butter
- 1 ½ Cups all purpose flour
- 1 Cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
Rocky Road Topping
- 2 Cups miniature marshmallows
- 1 Cup peanuts
- 1/2 Cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375˚ F .
- In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt together ½ cup of chocolate chips and butter on high for one minute. Remove from microwave and stir until chocolate is melted and smooth.
- Add the flour, sugar, baking powder, vanilla, and salt to the melted chocolate and stir until mixed. Add one egg and whip until well incorporated. Add the second egg and whip by hand until a sticky batter is formed.
- Spread the batter into an ungreased 9×9 baking pan. Bake for 15 minutes in preheated 375˚ F oven.
- Remove from the oven and sprinkle the marshmallows, nuts, and ½ cup of chocolate chips (in that order) onto the brownies. Bake for an additional 15 minutes.
- Let cool for at least an hour to easily slice.
