Rocky Road Brownies

Why you'll love it

Rocky road brownies are a type of chocolate brownie that has nuts and marshmallows. They are great because they combine the rich, chocolatey goodness of brownies with the crunchiness of nuts and the softness of marshmallows, creating a delicious and satisfying dessert.

Baking them in a skillet instead of a pan creates a crispy, caramelized edge and a fudgy, gooey center. The skillet allows for better heat distribution and retention, which results in a more even and consistent bake. Additionally, serving the brownies in a skillet adds a rustic and charming touch, making it a visually appealing dessert, especially when you top with some ice cream!

That being said, you can bake these in a regular baking pan and they will come out delicious that way, too! I recommend a square baking pan that is 9 x 9 big.

Brief rocky road history

The popular form of rocky road is the ice cream which was created by William Dreyer, of Dreyer’s Ice Cream. It was debuted in Oakland, CA in 1929 during the Great Depression as a way to cheer people up. It was actually inspired by a brownie-like dessert that originated in Australia.

The name itself has two alleged inspirations. It is inspired by the rocky and bumpy road construction projects of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The phrase "rocky road" is also used to describe any difficult or rough journey, and it's thought that the dessert, with its combination of crunchy nuts and soft marshmallows, was named after this concept of a challenging and uneven path which makes sense as a Great Depression dessert.

Ingredient overview

You only need a few basic ingredients to make this recipe, chances are that you have all or at least most of the ingredients already. Here are some of the important ingredients you need to know about. The full list of ingredients and their amounts are in the recipe card below.

• Flour - All-purpose flour works best in this recipe, but white whole wheat or regular whole wheat flour are also great to use if you want to add a bit more wholesomeness. The whole wheat can also add to the texture of the final brownie.
• Cocoa powder - You can use either natural or Dutch-processed cocoa powder, however I am a fan of using natural cocoa powder in this particular brownie.
• Chocolate - For a super fudgy brownie, we use a lot of chocolate. I prefer to use a blend of dark and semi-sweet chocolate for the best flavor that isn't too sweet. I do not recommend milk chocolate as it can end up being too sweet when we add everything else.
• Sugar - This recipe calls for granulated sugar, but you can use brown sugar if you want to add more depth.
• Nuts - You can use any nuts you have around here. I like using peanuts, walnuts, and/or almonds.

How to make

Making your rocky road brownies is so easy to do. If you are making them in a skillet, it makes the process even easier.

1. Melt the chocolate and the butter together on low and allow it to cool so it is warm to the touch.
2. Add in the sugar and whip until it fully incorporates.
3. Beat in the eggs one at a time until well-combined.
4. Add in the cocoa powder, flour, salt, and baking powder and stir until just combined.
5. Bake, then top with the nuts and marshmallows, plus any other toppings you'd like!

Brownie toppings

Along with the nuts and marshmallows, there are many other ways you can enhance your rocky road brownies.

• Add chocolate chips or a chocolate drizzle.
• Drizzle a tasty salted caramel sauce or peanut butter hot fudge.
• Instead of using vanilla marshmallows, you can mix it up with strawberry marshmallows or chocolate marshmallows.
• Vanilla ice cream makes a welcome topping to just about any brownie.