• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Cambrea Bakes
  • Holiday Baking
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Holiday Baking
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Holiday Baking
    • Recipes
    • About
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
  • ×
    Cambrea Bakes » Recipes » Bar & Brownie Recipes

    Rocky Road Brownies

    Published: July 7, 2023 Modified: Jul 7, 2023 by Cambrea Gordon. This post may contain affiliate links. *If you want tips, step-by-step shots, and videos, be sure to read the whole post below!

    249 shares
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Tumblr
    Jump to Recipe
    rocky road brownies pinterest pin.
    rocky road brownies pinterest pin.

    Inspired by rocky road ice cream- rocky road brownies! This recipe takes the classic ice cream to a whole new level with fudgy brownies, almonds, and gooey marshmallows baked on top. Easy to make in one bowl in less than one hour!

    a brownie resting on another brownie to show the fudgy texture.

    Confession time- I never actually tried rocky road until about a year ago; crazy right?! Although, I knew once I tried it that I needed to develop these rocky road brownies. 

    The base of these brownies is my s'mores bars, which is one of my favorite recipes for summer! The gooey marshmallow layer is baked onto the brownies, then sprinkled with more almonds and even more melted chocolate.

    If you love creative brownie recipes, you must try my popular Pretzel Brownies, Pecan Brownies, and Cheesecake Brownies.

    Jump to:
    • why you'll love these rocky road brownies
    • ingredient notes & substitutions
    • variations
    • recipe instructions
    • expert baking tips
    • storage & freezing
    • recipe faqs
    • other brownie recipes you'll love
    • Recipe 📖
    • Reviews

    why you'll love these rocky road brownies

    • These brownies taste just like rocky road ice cream (minus the ice cream) in brownie form! Although I highly recommend serving them with a scoop of vanilla or chocolate ice cream on top while they're still warm!
    • This recipe requires less than 10 ingredients and can be made in one bowl, no stand mixer is required. It's very similar to my mint brownies!

    ingredient notes & substitutions

    ingredients needed to make brownies in bowls with labels.

    Mini marshmallows: I tested these rocky road brownies with both mini marshmallows and large marshmallows, and found that the mini ones work best. 

    Semi-sweet chocolate chips: You can use dark chocolate chips instead. I don't recommend using white or milk chocolate chips because they will make the brownies too sweet.

    Espresso powder: While optional, this ingredient intensifies the chocolate flavor, like in my espresso brownies! My favorite brand is King Arthur Espresso Powder.

    Dutch-processed cocoa powder: This recipe calls for unsweetened Dutch cocoa powder for a rich chocolate flavor. You can substitute it with regular cocoa powder if needed.

    variations

    Feel free to substitute the almonds with your favorite nuts like walnuts, peanuts, or a combination. You can also top them with homemade marshmallows!

    recipe instructions

    Line a metal square 8x8 baking pan with parchment paper on all four sides. Then preheat the oven to 350 F/180 C.

    whisked sugar and eggs in a mixing bowl.

    Step 1: Whisk the wet ingredients. In a large bowl, whisk the brown sugar, granulated sugar, eggs, egg yolk, and vanilla extract together until combined.

    streaming melted chocolate into the mixing bowl.

    Step 2: Stream in the chocolate mixture. Whisking constantly, slowly stream in the melted butter and chocolate chips into the bowl. Mix until just combined.

    a bowl of brownie batter.

    Step 3: Fold in the dry ingredients. Use a rubber spatula to gently fold in the flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, and salt until just combined.

    brownie batter with chopped almonds on top.

    Step 4: Bake! Pour the brownie batter into the prepared baking pan and sprinkle the chopped almonds over the top. Bake the brownies in the preheated oven for 33-40 minutes. 

    mini marshmallows on top of a pan of brownies.

    Step 5: Add the marshmallows. Pull the pan out of the oven and sprinkle the miniature marshmallows over the top of the brownies. Return to the oven and bake for 2 minutes longer (watch them carefully!) until they look puffy and lightly golden brown. 

    Alternatively, use a kitchen torch (my preferred way!) to lightly toast the marshmallows.

    a rocky road brownie on brown parchment paper.

    Step 6: Cool and cut. Cool the pan of brownies on a wire rack until completely cool before cutting. Drizzle them with melted chocolate and more sliced almonds if desired. 

    Serve warm with a scoop of ice cream. Enjoy your rocky road brownies!

    expert baking tips

    • Use a kitchen scale. Baking with a scale is much more accurate than cup measurements. To convert this recipe, click the "metric" button next to the ingredients title on the recipe card. If you do not have a scale, use a spoon to fluff the flour first, then spoon it into your measuring cup.
    • Cut when cool. I know it's impossible to wait, but the brownies will fall apart if cut into when still warm.
    • Enjoy warm. I think all brownies are better served warm! Once cut, gently warm them in the microwave and serve with ice cream if desired for the ultimate treat.
    • Use a metal pan. Glass or ceramic pans retain heat differently and will need to bake at a different temperature or will need the bake time adjusted.

    storage & freezing

    Store leftover brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days.

    You can freeze the baked brownies in an airtight container for up to 1 month!

    recipe faqs

    What is rocky road ice cream? What does it taste like?

    Rocky Road ice cream is a chocolate-based ice cream that is packed with marshmallows pieces and almonds!

    Can I use regular-sized marshmallows?

    Definitely! I recommend cutting them into 4-5 smaller pieces and they should melt just like the mini ones.

    Can I make rocky road brownies with boxed brownie mix?

    Yes! Follow the instructions on the box for baking and mixing.

    Can these be made gluten-free?

    I have not tested this recipe with gluten-free flour, but I often hear readers have success using a 1:1 ratio like Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free Flour!

    What is the best way to cut brownies with marshmallows?

    Run a sharp knife under hot water then liberally spray or oil it (canola oil works best). In between cuts, run the knife under hot water and wipe it clean before re-oiling it. This should keep the marshmallows from sticking to the knife!

    a rocky road brownie on brown parchment paper.

    other brownie recipes you'll love

    • Christmas sugar cookie bars with festive sprinkles on a gold wire rack.
      Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars
    • pecan pie brownies stacked on a piece of brown parchment paper.
      Bourbon Pecan Pie Brownies
    • Monster cookie bars on parchment paper with mm candies and chocolate chips on top.
      Monster Cookie Bars
    • nutella bars stuffed with gooey nutella in the center.
      Easy Brown Butter Nutella Bars

    If you tried this or any other recipe on my website, please let me know how it went in the comments below, I love hearing from you! Also, please leave a star rating while you're there! You can also tag me on Instagram or Facebook so I can check it out!

    Recipe 📖

    a rocky road brownie on top of another.
    5 from 4 votes
    Rate this Recipe Print Recipe Pin Recipe

    Rocky Road Brownies

    Rocky road brownies- inspired by rocky road ice cream! This recipe takes the classic ice cream to a whole new level with fudgy brownies, almonds, and gooey marshmallows baked on top. Easy to make in one bowl in less than one hour!
    Servings 16 servings
    Prep 10 minutes mins
    Cook 33 minutes mins
    Total 43 minutes mins
    Course : Dessert
    Cuisine : American
    Author : Cambrea Gordon
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • metal 8x8 square baking pan
    Need Metric Measurements?Use the button options below to toggle between US cups and Metric grams!

    Ingredients 
     

    • â…” cup + 1 tbsp all-purpose flour *see notes below for measuring*
    • ¼ cup unsweetened dutch cocoa powder
    • 1 teaspoon espresso powder
    • ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
    • 10 tablespoon unsalted butter
    • â…” cup + ¼ cup dark chocolate chips
    • ½ cup light or dark brown sugar packed
    • ½ cup granulated sugar
    • 2 large eggs
    • 1 large egg yolk
    • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ½ cup chopped almonds
    • 1 cup mini marshmallows
    • semi-sweet chocolate chips (melted) for drizzling

    Instructions

    • Line a metal square 8x8 baking pan with parchment paper on all four sides. Preheat the oven to 350 F/180 C.
    • Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, and salt. Set aside.
      ⅔ cup + 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, ¼ cup unsweetened dutch cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon espresso powder, ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
    • Melt the chocolate chips and butter together until smooth.
      10 tablespoon unsalted butter, ⅔ cup + ¼ cup dark chocolate chips
    • In a large mixing bowl, whisk the brown sugar, granulated sugar, eggs, egg yolk, and vanilla extract until combined. Stream the melted butter and chocolate into the bowl, whisking constantly until just combined.
      ½ cup light or dark brown sugar packed, ½ cup granulated sugar, 2 large eggs, 1 large egg yolk, 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • Fold the dry ingredients into the batter until just combined. Then pour the brownie batter into the prepared baking pan and sprinkle the almonds over the top. Bake for 33-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out covered in a few moist crumbs. In my oven, 35 minutes is perfect!
      ½ cup chopped almonds
    • Take the pan out of the oven and cover the top with the mini marshmallows. Return the pan to the oven for about 2 minutes, until the marshmallows are puffy and lightly golden brown. You can also use a kitchen torch, which is my preferred way!
      1 cup mini marshmallows
    • Remove the pan from the oven and let it cool completely on a wire rack. Once cool, drizzle with melted chocolate and sprinkle with more almonds and mini marshmallows if desired.
      semi-sweet chocolate chips (melted)
    • For clean cuts, liberally spray or oil a sharp knife. In between cuts, run the knife under hot water and wipe it clean. Re-oil it before the next cut. This will help keep the marshmallows from sticking to the knife!
    • Enjoy your rocky road brownies with a scoop of ice cream!

    Notes

    *Measure your flour properly. This is my #1 baking tip! Do not ever scoop a measuring cup into your flour as this always leads to using too much flour. Instead, use the spoon-level method. This means fluffing the flour first, then spooning it into your measuring cup/spoon. For the BEST results, use a kitchen scale!*
    Metal pan preffered. Glass or ceramic pans retain heat differently and will need to bake at a different temperature or will need the baking time adjusted.
    For clean cuts: Run a sharp knife under hot water and wipe it clean. Generously spray or oil it (canola oil works great!). In between cuts, run the knife under hot water and wipe it clean before re-oiling it. This will help keep the marshmallows from sticking to the knife.
    Storage: Store leftover brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days. You can also freeze them for up to 1 month in an airtight container or freezer bag.
    Substitutions: Feel free to substitute the nuts for your favorite or leave them out completely.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 166kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 51mg | Sodium: 51mg | Potassium: 77mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 265IU | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1mg

    More Bar & Brownie Recipes

    • oreo brownie topped with chopped oreo cookies.
      Oreo Brownies
    • biscoff brownie with a layer of cookie butter in the center.
      Biscoff Brownies
    • mm brownies on a wire rack with one on its side to show the texture.
      M&M Brownies
    • smores brownies cut into squares.
      S'mores Brownies with Homemade Marshmallow

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Debbie says

      September 05, 2022 at 9:25 pm

      5 stars
      Hi!
      Great Recipe! I 1st made this in college decades ago and lost the recipe. Thanks to you I have it again. My friend told me this was called "Rocky Road." So all these years I thought it included brownies... not fudge or ice cream. (Just sharing another reason in which I couldn't find the exact recipe. lol!)
      I'm originally from southeast Louisiana, so I did make an exchange, so they would turn out as I remembered. I used pecans instead of peanuts. Also I used a little extra melted chocolate, marshmallows and pecans, so that I could have almost 2 layers of marshmallows, pecans and chocolate. Just enough to make it look a little more bumpy.
      *Now I want to share what my daughters, grandmother on their father's side did. (She's a very good cook!) She was out of mini marshmallows one time she made this but came up with a n excellent solution. She had regular size marshmallows and new they wouldn't melt properly due to size. So she cut up each marshmallow into 4 to 6 pieces. A few marshmallows were a little fluffier and ended up being cut into 6 pieces. Anyway, it turned out fine and no one knew she used large marshmallows. They melted just fine. She did use a little powdered sugar to keep the big marshmallows from sticking to the knife. I believe a little butter would also do the same. And I hope this helps people that are in the same situation, so they don't have to make a mad dash to the grocery store, just for mini marshmallows. As for the huge campfire marshmallows for s'mores, I believe you could use them too, as long as you cut them into 6 or 8 pieces... But at that point, I'd make a run to store. lol!
      Happy Baking! 🙂

      Reply
    2. Lisa M. says

      April 11, 2022 at 6:26 pm

      5 stars
      AMAZING! Everyone loved these brownies and they tasted just like rocky road. Such an easy recipe to make, these are definitely going to be made again soon!!

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    head shot of cambrea.

    Hey, I'm Cambrea!

    Cambrea is a professionally trained pastry chef and food photographer. Here you'll find bakery-worthy sweet and savory kitchen-tested recipes that are unique twists on classics. Cambrea has been featured on Fox News, Shoutout Arizona, The Feed Feed, Domino Sugar, and more.

    More about me →

    Christmas Recipes

    • Christmas sugar cookie bars with festive sprinkles on a gold wire rack.
      Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars
    • A slice of gingerbread cake on brown parchment paper with mini gingerbread cookies on top.
      Moist Gingerbread Cake
    • Candy cane chocolate chip cookies on a white serving plate.
      Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Molasses crinkle cookie with a bite taken out of it on a baking tray.
      Molasses Crinkle Cookies
    • Chocolate thumbprint cookies filled with chocolate ganache and sprinkled with finely chopped chocolate.
      Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies
    • pecan pie brownies stacked on a piece of brown parchment paper.
      Bourbon Pecan Pie Brownies

    Thanksgiving Favorites

    • Molasses crinkle cookie with a bite taken out of it on a baking tray.
      Molasses Crinkle Cookies
    • pecan pie brownies stacked on a piece of brown parchment paper.
      Bourbon Pecan Pie Brownies
    • Savory bread pudding in a white baking pan with fresh thyme leaves on top.
      Savory Bread Pudding
    • Apple pie filled cookies with caramel sauce drizzled on top on parchment paper.
      Caramel Apple Pie Cookies

    Cookie Recipes

    • pumpkin cheesecake cookies with a cheesecake center on parchment paper.
      Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies
    • Biscoff butter cookies on a baking tray with melted cookie butter on top of each one.
      Biscoff Butter Cookies
    • toffee chocolate chip cookie on a baking tray topped with extra toffee pieces.
      Brown Butter Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Chocolate chip pumpkin cookies on parchment paper.
      Chewy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • a pile of chocolate chip pecan cookies topped with chocolate chips and flaky sea salt.
      Molasses Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies
    • a few brownie crinkle cookies on brown parchment paper sprinkled with sea salt.
      Salted Mocha Brownie Cookies

    Cake Recipes

    • Cinnamon roll cake slices on a wooden platter on their sides to show the cinnamon swirl texture.
      Cinnamon Roll Cake
    • Reeses peanut butter cake on a wooden cake stand with slices missing to show the filling.
      Reese's Cake
    • Black velvet cake cut in half on a white marble platter.
      Black Velvet Cake
    • Chocolate turtle cupcakes with caramel swirled buttercream, chocolate ganache, and pecans.
      Chocolate Turtle Cupcakes

    Brownie Recipes

    • chocolate chip blondies stacked on top of each other.
      Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Blondies
    • salted caramel pretzel brownies on a rack.
      Pretzel Brownies with Salted Caramel
    • blueberry blondie with a bite taken out of it.
      Blueberry Crumble Blondies
    • strawberry lemon blondies on brown parchment paper topped with fresh strawberries and lemon zest.
      Strawberry Lemon Blondies

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    read our terms

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    keep in touch

    • Sign Up! for emails and exclusive email-only recipes.
    • Find us on Instagram
    • Find us on Facebook
    • Find us on Pinterest

    about

    • About
    • Contact Me

    As an affiliate partner, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases, at no cost to you. I only recommend products I really use and love.

    Copyright © 2023 Cambrea Bakes LLC