Rocky Road candy is a no-bake favorite with creamy chocolate, soft marshmallows, and crunchy salted peanuts. It’s quick, easy, and perfect for holidays, homemade gifts for friends, or indulging your sweet tooth!
Rocky Road Candy Recipe
Rocky Road candy is a timeless favorite that I have transformed into recipes in all types of delicious forms like our Rocky Road Bars and Rocky Road Fudge! But when you mix melted chocolate with chewy marshmallows and crunchy peanuts, it transforms into a treat bursting with flavor and texture.
This simple recipe is hands-down the best way to make Rocky Road candy at home. Just melt, mix, and create mounds of peanut-marshmallow goodness! It’s a fun, kid-friendly project, and you can easily add festive holiday colors to make it extra special.
Rocky Road Candy Ingredients
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips: Feel free to make your chocolate marshmallow clusters with dark chocolate chips.
- Milk chocolate chips: You can substitute chocolate almond bark for the chocolate chips.
- Vegetable oil
- Miniature marshmallows: You can substitute multi-colored miniature marshmallows for the white miniature marshmallows for a more festive appearance.
- Dry roasted cocktail peanuts: You can use another nut, like chopped walnuts, almonds, cashews, or pecans.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Rocky Road Candy
- Melt In The Microwave: Add the chocolate chips and oil to a microwave-safe bowl and heat in 30-second intervals, stirring after each, until melted and smooth.
- Cool And Coat: Allow the chocolate to cool, then stir in the mini marshmallows and peanuts until completely coated.
- Scoop And Set: Scoop candy clusters onto the parchment paper lined baking sheet. Chill in the refrigerator to set before serving.
- Serve: Enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
Rocky Road candy is the perfect sweet and salty treat for after-school snacks, potlucks, and parties. It’s also great for gift-giving. Fill a cookie tin or cellophane bag with your chocolate peanut marshmallow clusters and give it as a homemade holiday gift.
Tips & Variations
- Prepare With Peanut Butter: Add 1 cup of chunky peanut butter to your clusters. Heat the peanut butter with the chocolate chips and vegetable oil as instructed in the recipe.
- Don’t Melt The Marshmallows: Make sure the chocolate isn’t too hot when you mix in the marshmallows. You don’t want them to melt!
- Choose Your Chocolate: Instead of using chocolate chips, try some chocolate almond bark. You can also make your chocolate marshmallow clusters with dark chocolate chips or a combination of chips or swap the milk chocolate for butterscotch chips.
- Melting Methods: Instead of the microwave, you can melt the chocolate in a saucepan on the stovetop. Just be sure to use low heat and stir regularly to avoid burning. A double boiler method will work, too. Just make sure the water is simmering and doesn’t touch the bottom of the bowl.
- Make With More Mix-Ins: Feel free to add your favorite sweet or salty ingredients into the chocolate mixture for more flavor and texture contrasts. Some ideas include pretzels, candy pieces, cereal (like Rice Krispies or Chex), crushed cookies, or pumpkin seeds.
- Customize Your Clusters: Decorate your candy with festive sprinkles and assorted colors to match a holiday or party theme. Use red and green colors for Christmas, pink and red for Valentine’s Day, and orange for Halloween. You can also top your no-bake treats with a sprinkle of coarse sea salt.
Proper Storage
- To Store: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- To Freeze: You can freeze your candy for up to 3 months. Place the clusters in a freezer-safe container or bag, with parchment or wax paper between layers. Thaw at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before serving.
More Homemade Candy Recipes
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Rocky Road Candy
Ingredients
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 2 cups milk chocolate chips
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 cups miniature marshmallows
- 1½ cups dry roasted cocktail peanuts
Instructions
- Line 2 baking sheets with wax paper and set them aside.
- Add the chocolate chips and vegetable oil to a large heat-safe mixing bowl. Heat the chocolate chips and oil in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring after each interval until the chocolate is completely melted and smooth.
- Allow the chocolate to cool to lukewarm before stirring in the miniature marshmallows and peanuts until the marshmallows and nuts are completely coated.
- Use a 1½ tablespoon cookie scoop to scoop the candy clusters. Space the clusters about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Allow the candy to chill in the refrigerator to completely set before serving.
Jenn’s Notes
- To Store: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- You can substitute multi-colored miniature marshmallows for the white miniature marshmallows.
- Make sure the chocolate isn’t too hot when you mix in the marshmallows. You don’t want them to melt.
- Fill a cookie tin or cellophane bag with your candy clusters and give it as a gift for the holidays.
I just made the chocolate clusters. How long does it take for them to take form in the fridge?
I usually leave in the fridge overnight. But it should be good in a few hours.
Can these be frozen ?
Wrap it well in plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container to prevent freezer burn. It can typically be stored in the freezer for up to three months. Thaw it at room temperature for a short time before serving. Freezing can sometimes alter the texture of the marshmallows, making them a bit chewier.
Hiya, I am in the uk, what is the difference between semi sweet and milk choc chips?
Thanks x
The primary difference between semi-sweet and milk chocolate chips is their sugar and milk content. Semi-sweet chocolate chips have a higher cocoa content and less sugar compared to milk chocolate chips, giving them a richer, less sweet chocolate flavor. Milk chocolate chips, on the other hand, contain more sugar and milk solids, which gives them a creamier texture and sweeter, milder chocolate taste.
What is the purpose of the vegetable oil, please. Can you leave it out? Thanks for your response.
Hi Donna – I would not leave it out. If you don’t add vegetable oil, the chocolate may be thicker and less manageable, which could result in a less smooth and more matte appearance in the finished candies; they might also be more prone to clumping or seizing.
These are so delicious!! Did them in my crockpot and substitute vegetable oil with coconut oil.. Thank you for the recipe and will definitely be adding this to our family’s favourites.
How much coconut oil did you use instead of vegetable oil?