You are just going to adore this nostalgic vegan rocky road recipe! Crunchy smashed-up digestive biscuits (cookies), gooey soft vegan marshmallows and salty peanuts, all smothered in chocolate! You can even add little hints of morello cherries or other dried fruit. It's indulgent, sticky and utterly addictive!
When I was growing up in Australia, Rocky Road was one of those treats that were usually brought out at parties in the lead-up to Christmas. Think hot sunny days and slightly melty chocolate smothering layers of marshmallows and biscuits. Little hands reaching into the Tupperware and getting mess EVERYWHERE!
Just like my Granny's Famous Rum Balls I've waved my vegan wand over this classic Rocky Road from my childhood. Neither need to be kept for eating just at Christmas or in the summer, but you do need to eat with pure unadulterated pleasure. There's something about a no-bake treat that is irresistible for both Christmas and summertime. If it makes an almighty chocolatey mess, so much the better.
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🍪Ingredients
Honestly, making rocky road into a vegan version is a doddle nowadays. Just choose the vegan versions of the classic ingredients and away you go!
- Vegan Dark Chocolate- Most dark chocolate is vegan, just be sure to check the label.
- Digestive Biscuits (or Arrowroot cookies, Rich Tea, or Graham Crackers). Plain vegan tea biscuits are needed. They will be called different things according to where you are. The point is that they are plain and slightly crumbly.
- Vegan Marshmallows- These are much easier to come by now. You can buy online or even in M&S! I like using mini marshmallows, but you can cut up larger ones.
- Vegan Butter- Choose a butter that will solidify again, this helps with the texture.
- Golden Syrup (or agave syrup)- Golden syrup is always used in the classic Aussie recipe.
- Salted Peanuts (optional)- I love the slight salty contrast against the sweetness of everything else.
- Glace Cherries (optional, but so much fun)- honestly, I'm not sure I could make rocky road without these vibrant pink/red cherries. But leave them out if you must.
- Other dried fruits if you would like. - This recipe is very forgiving, so add in what you like!
See recipe card for full quantities.
👩🍳Instructions
Honestly, this recipe is pretty much just melt, mix and pour..
- Bash up the cookies, and melt the chocolate, butter and syrup.
2) Stir until the chocolate is glossy. Don't over cook.
3) Add all the vegan rocky road fillings to the chocolate and mix in well.
4) Place the vegan rocky road mixture into a small lined tray and chill until set. You can decorate the top with more marshmallows or other bits if you like.
🍫Substitutions & Variations
This vegan Rocky Road recipe is super versatile, so you can really switch things up to suit your own tastes.
- Gluten-Free- Use gluten-free cookies or biscuits.
- Nut-Free- Choose nut-free chocolate and omit the peanuts.
- Milk Chocolate - choose vegan milk chocolate instead of dark chocolate.
- Extra Crunchy- add in rice crispies or corn flakes
Really, as long as you keep the overall ratio of chocolate to fillings, you can be very creative with your rocky road fillings. I would say that rocky road does need marshmallows however, otherwise it's just not a rocky road!
🔪Equipment
You'll need a small brownie tin to make this rocky road. The one I used was 28cm x 18cm (affiliate link) - you can click through to take a look at it.
🥫Storage
Keep this rocky road for up to 2 weeks in an airtight container. If it's hot weather, pop it in the fridge, or it might start get a little sticky! I don't recommend freezing this recipe.
❗Top tip
Don't overmix the rocky road when combining it all together. You want to just cover the filling in chocolate, not stir them up into a sticky mess!
❓FAQ
Choose the chocolate you love best! I love the contrast of dark chocolate and sweet treats, but just choose your favourite vegan chocolate.
Depending on where you are, the name of the biscuit or cookie will vary. I use a plain digestive biscuit in the UK. In Australia these are often called arrowroot biscuits, and in the USA graham crackers are used. Choose your favourite plain biscuit!
Honestly, rocky road is super customisable. Choose what you like best! I love the salty crunch of peanuts in mine, but you can substitute in rice crispies, or other nuts.
In Australia and the UK golden syrup is common, however it can be substituted for light molasses or agave syrup in this recipe.
📖 Recipe
Easy Vegan Rocky Road
Equipment
Ingredients Note:
For accuracy, I measure all ingredients in metric as standard, then convert and test the recipe for American cup measurements etc.
(Heads up Aussie and UK readers- your measurements in cups are sometimes different, so please use metric or check you have the correct cup and spoon type!!)
Ingredients
- 200 g plain biscuits
- 200 g dark chocolate
- 135 g vegan butter
- 2 tablespoon golden syrup
- 100 g vegan mini marshmallows
- 50 g salted peanuts (or any other combo of dried fruit or nuts. )
- 50 g glace cherries
Instructions
- Either in the microwave, or over a saucepan of boiling water, melt the chocolate, syrup and butter.200 g dark chocolate, 135 g vegan butter, 2 tablespoon golden syrup
- Crush the biscuits roughly.200 g plain biscuits
- Add the biscuits, marshmallows, nuts and fruit to the chocolate mixture and stir.100 g vegan mini marshmallows, 50 g salted peanuts, 50 g glace cherries
- Pour out into a lined mini baking tray and leave in the fridge to set.
Notes
- Don't overmix the rocky road when combining it all together. You want to just cover the filling in chocolate, not stir them up into a sticky mess!
Hayley says
This turned out great for me. I used salted pistachios and pretzels, then used vegan gummy lollies because I don't like glace cherries. Saving this recipe!
Louise-Claire Cayzer says
These sound delicious. What a yummy treat to use gummy lollies and salted pistachios!
Jan says
Hi Claire thankyou so much for the yummy recipe 😋 I made it with my granddaughter whisky 4 and she loved licking the bowl 🥣
Evie says
Absolutely amazing I make them probably too often! My new go to recipe and it's so easy to make
Louise-Claire Cayzer says
I'm so happy you love them! (there's never too often for Rocky Road in my opinion :)! ) x