Rocky Road Ice Cream

Jul 25, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Dessert Ice cream frozen desserts Vanilla: Extract Medium

Two generous scoops of rocky road ice cream in a shallow ceramic bowl, softly melting at the edges

Creamy vanilla ice cream loaded with toasted almonds, mini marshmallows, and dark chocolate chunks for the classic Rocky Road flavor.

Prep 30 min

Cook 10 min

Cooling 5 hr

Total 5 hr 40 min

Servings 8

Diet —

Ingredients

Adjust yield

servings

2.0 cups (480.0 ml)heavy cream
1.0 cup (240.0 ml)whole milk
¾ cup (150.0 g)granulated sugar
⅛ tsp (0.5 g)fine sea salt
1.0 tbsp (15.0 ml)pure vanilla extract
¾ cup (90.0 g)whole almonds, toasted and chopped
½ cup (50.0 g)mini marshmallows
¾ cup (120.0 g)dark chocolate chunks

Make it at home

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Instructions

In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, salt, whole milk, and heavy cream. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves and the mixture reaches 170-175°F (77-79°C). Remove from heat.
Allow the mixture to cool at room temperature for 15 minutes, then stir in the vanilla extract.
Cover and refrigerate the mixture until chilled, at least 4 hours or overnight.
Churn the chilled custard in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions, usually about 30-40 minutes until soft-serve consistency.
During the last 5 minutes of churning, add toasted chopped almonds, mini marshmallows, and dark chocolate chunks. Mix until evenly distributed.
Transfer the ice cream to an airtight container and freeze for at least 1 hour to firm up before serving.

Tips

Toast almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat for 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently, to enhance their flavor before adding.
Use pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste to ensure a rich vanilla flavor that complements the chocolate and almonds.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make rocky road ice cream?

Plan on 30 minutes of prep and 10 minutes of cooking, plus 5 hours to chill and freeze. The recipe makes about 1 quart (8 servings).

How should I store rocky road ice cream?

Store leftover ice cream in a tightly sealed container in the freezer for up to 2 weeks. Let soften at room temperature for 5-10 minutes before scooping.

Can I make rocky road ice cream ahead?

Prepare and chill the ice cream base up to 2 days ahead for best flavor and texture.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This recipe uses 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract (15 ml). Each teaspoon of pure vanilla extract can be swapped for 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste, the seeds of half a vanilla bean, or 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla powder. Paste and seeds add the classic dark specks.

Creamy vanilla ice cream loaded with toasted almonds, mini marshmallows, and dark chocolate chunks for the classic Rocky Road flavor.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 8 servings this recipe makes.

389 Calories / serving

28.0g Fat

31.2g Carbs

4.9g Protein

27.9g Sugar

Whole recipe (8 servings): ~3112 cal · 224g fat · 250g carbs · 39g protein · 223g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.

Per serving · 389 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 74 min·4.3 mi·~8650 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 53 min·2.7 mi·~5300 steps
Moderate cycling 40 min·8.0 mi
Swimming laps 55 min
Jogging 38 min·3.2 mi·~6100 steps
Stair climbing 36 min·~3250 steps
Dancing 63 min
Bodyweight circuit training 40 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 90 min

Rough estimates for one serving, based on standard MET values at about 155 lb. Your own burn depends on body size, effort, and fitness. Shown for context only — food is not something you have to earn.

Made with VanillaGoods

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