Rocky Road Fudge that is cold and creamy, super easy to make, and made with ingredients that are vegan, dairy-free, and with gluten-free options.
Rocky Road Fudge
Rocky Road Fudge, or rocky road candy, as it is often called, is a traditional and super easy dessert to make in the summer. No cooking is necessary, and it takes just a few minutes to toss all the ingredients in a bowl and then let it freeze.
We love to make a stash to have on hand in the freezer to add to ice cream, or just to snack on as an afternoon pick up.
My version uses ingredients that allow it to be vegan, dairy-free, nut-free and I provide gluten-free options as well.
Before we dive into the recipe, I'd like to invite you to sign up for my free chocolate course. Five lessons hit your inbox with detail on how to create your own simple healthy chocolate desserts.
Okay, so back to this recipe...
What Is Rocky Road Fudge?
This unique and traditional candy is a cold fudge that is crispy, crunchy, creamy and gooey all at once. That's because of the addition of crispy crunchy cereal, creamy Sunbutter sunflower seed butter, and mini vegan marshmallows.
The traditional candy was created in the early 1920s - according to Wikipedia - and originally was composed of just chocolate, marshmallows and walnuts. Later on, walnuts were swapped for almonds. Current version often have additional add-ins such as crispy cereal and seeds and chocolate chips.
My version, however, is nut-free, so I added sunflower seeds instead of almonds. My friends at Sunbutter have come out with a new chocolate version of sunflower seed butter, both that and the original flavors are just perfect in this candy.
The Ingredients in Rocky Road Fudge
- sunflower seed butter or nut butter - I use Sunbutter to make the fudge nut-free but any nut or seed butter is fine. I would however use a healthier nut butter, not one with processed ingredients such as Jif.
- Coconut milk - any milk can be used, but this one is like heavy cream without the dairy so it makes the fudge super smooth. Using this milk, you'd buy canned full fat coconut milk and keep the can at room temperature (as opposed to chilling it) and shake it up so the solids and liquids combine before measuring it out.
- Chocolate chips - this is your chocolate source, so quality matters. I love allergy-free Enjoylife semi-sweet mini chips.
- Puff cereal - I use Kashi cereal when gluten-free is not needed; or rice krispies or quinoa puffs when I do want the candy to be gluten-free
- Mini Marshmallows - I use vegan Dandies brand. I do have a vegan marshmallow recipe but it makes large size and you definitely need mini here. I suppose my recipe could be cut into a dice-size if you really want to try homemade vegan marshmallows here.
- Optional mix-ins such as sunflower seeds or nuts
How to Make Rocky Road Fudge
- Line a loaf pan with a piece of parchment paper
- Add the chocolate chips, sunflower seed butter, coconut milk to a pyrex measuring cup and microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring in between to achieve a creamy texture.
- Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature or near it. You will have to keep stirring occasionally to keep it from solidifying. You need to allow it to become cool enough so when you add the marshmallows, they don't melt.
- Fold in the cereal and marshmallows when you feel it is cool enough.
- Spread the mixture in the pan and tap to level it off.
- Chill the pan in the freezer for one hour or refrigerate for 3 hours.
- Lift the fudge out of the pan and cut.
- Store in a sealed container in the freezer, eating as you want.
Why Use Seed Butter in Recipes
Desserts of course should be eaten in moderation. But it's wonderful to find ways to make them healthier, and that's why I like to work with sunflower seed butter.
Sunflower seeds are healthy as you can see from this article from Time Magazine. They are full of protein, fiber, zinc, folate and vitamin B6, and vitamin E. Sunflower seeds are also loaded with B complex vitamins, essential for the healthy nervous system, and also supply iron, phosphorus, and zinc.
Of course, if you don't have to use sunflower seed butter at all, you can replace it with more butter or any nut butter you choose.
How to Troubleshoot This Recipe
This recipe is fairly straightforward, however one area that can cause issues is the melted chocolate can seize or appear chunky after you add the milk.
This can happen because the water content varies between brands and even between cans, but it's fine, I have a few tips to make your chocolate smooth out. So if you pour your milk on to the melted chocolate and it seizes or becomes chunky, do this:
1. Just keep stirring (just keep swimming!)
2. Add a tsp or more of hot coconut milk and stir vigorously.
3. Warm the mixture in the microwave for 10 seconds and stir vigorously. Repeat the process if need be.
4. Warm the mixture in a water bath on the stove. Stir vigorously. Keep it in the hot water bath as long as it takes to smooth out the chocolate.
Q&A About Fudge Recipes
What is the secret to making fudge?
The secret to making fudge is the texture and that comes from the fat. I use coconut milk and nut butter, both of which contribute healthy fats.
What does it mean to beat the fudge?
Traditional fudge is stirred on a flat surface such as marble to break down sugar crystals. We don't need to work hard to do that with my fudge because I melt chocolate and stir it with fats.
Why did fudge turned out grainy?
If your fudge turns out grainy or seizes it might be because of a higher water content in your coconut milk. Just reheat for 15 seconds or so in the microwave and keep stirring.
What makes fudge taste fudge?
The flavor of fudge comes from the chocolate you use so be sure to choose a quality brand.
Other Healthy Fudge Recipes
2-ingredient Fudge
Pumpkin Fudge
Cookie Dough Fudge
Butternut Squash Fudge
Fudge Frosting
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Rocky Road Fudge
Ingredients
- ¾ cup seed or nut butter
- ½ cup full fat coconut milk Do not chill the can, allow the solids and liquids to combine, and shake the can before measuring out.
- 2 cups chocolate chips I use EnjoyLife
- ¾ cup puff cereal (Use Kashi cereal, or to keep it gluten-free, use Rice Krispies or Quinoa puffs
- 3 cups vegan mini marshmallows
- 2 tbsp seeds or crushed nuts or walnuts or almonds
Instructions
Prep
- Line an 8-inch by 8-inch pan with 2 pieces of parchment paper so the sides are covered.
Make Rocky Road Fudge
- Put the chocolate chips into a pyrex measuring cup and microwave for 1 minute, stir until smooth and microwave again for 15 seconds, stir again until smooth.
- Add the seed butter and coconut milk to the mixture and stir until smooth. If need be, microwave in 15 second intervals, stirring in between to achieve a creamy texture.
- Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature or near it. I let mine sit in the bowl on the counter for 1 hour, stirring once or twice within that hour. Cooling the chocolate mixture before adding marshmallows is necessary or else the marshmallows will melt.
- Fold in the cereal and marshmallows when you feel it is cool enough.
- Spread the mixture in the pan and tap to level it off.
- Chill the pan in the freezer for one hour or the refrigerator for 3 hours or until it hardens.
- Lift the fudge out of the pan and cut.
Storing Rocky Road Fudge
- Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for a week or longer in the freezer, eating as you want.
Video
Nutrition
This post is sponsored by Sunbutter. My opinions are my own.
Casey
Hi! I really like the idea of this recipe and could see it being a staple in my house! I do have a question though.. I followed the recipe exactly, but my chocolate seized up when I added my 1/2 cup of can of coconut milk. It was room temp and shaken. I don’t have experience with coconut milk and wanted to ask if maybe the brand (water content?) could make a difference? I used simple truth organic. I do plan to try again in the future with the brand of coconut milk you linked via Amazon. Thanks for providing such awesome recipes!
Dee Dine
Sure Casey, I use Whole Food's brand 365 coconut milk, full fat and organic. But I have also used Thai Kitchen and Native Forest. I have heard that the water content does vary even between some brand's cans although I haven't had that issue with 365 brand.
Melted chocolate can seize up though even if you do everything right, so my trick if that happens is to warm it either by putting it back in the microwave for 10-15 seconds and then stir again. Or to add a teaspoon more of hot coconut milk and stir again. You can even warm in a water bath although that's more work. Hope that helps!