Description
This homemade rocky road ice cream recipe elevates the classic chocolate base with a vibrant dark cherry ripple, combining creamy chocolate with sticky marshmallows, crunchy almonds, and tart cherry for a perfectly balanced dessert. It’s an ideal project for family movie night.
Ingredients
Scale
- 600 ml (2.5 cups) heavy cream (35%+ fat)
- 480 ml (2 cups) whole milk (3.5% fat)
- 200 g (1 cup) granulated sugar
- 80 g (0.75 cup) unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
- 5 ml (1 tsp) vanilla extract
- 2 g (0.5 tsp) fine sea salt
- 150 g (5 oz) mini marshmallows (halal option available)
- 120 g (1 cup) toasted, chopped whole almonds
- 300 g (2 cups) fresh or frozen pitted dark cherries
- 60 g (0.25 cup) granulated sugar (for ripple)
- 15 ml (1 tbsp) fresh lemon juice
- 5 g (1.5 tsp) cornstarch
- 15 ml (1 tbsp) cold water
Instructions
- Prepare Cherry Ripple: Combine cherries, sugar, and lemon juice in a saucepan. Simmer over medium heat for 8-10 minutes until softened. Mix cornstarch and water; stir into cherry mixture until thickened, about 1-2 minutes.
- Chill Ripple: Remove the ripple from heat and let cool completely at room temperature, then transfer to the refrigerator to chill thoroughly for at least 1 hour.
- Make Ice Cream Base: Whisk together milk, sugar, and cocoa in a separate saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and stir in cream, vanilla extract, and salt. Cover and refrigerate base for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight.
- Churn Ice Cream: Pour the fully chilled base into an ice cream maker. Churn according to manufacturer directions until it reaches a soft-serve consistency (20-30 minutes).
- Assemble Layers: Transfer one-third of the soft ice cream to a large freezer-safe container. Swirl in half of the chilled cherry ripple, marshmallows, and almonds. Repeat layering once more with another third of the ice cream and remaining mix-ins.
- Freeze to Firm: Top with the final third of the ice cream. Cover tightly and freeze for at least 4-6 hours, or until firm, before serving.
Notes
To ensure a smooth, creamy texture, use high-fat ingredients (35%+ cream, whole milk) and thoroughly chill the base for at least 4 hours before churning. Keep all mix-ins cold to prevent melting the churned ice cream base during assembly. Marshmallows freeze hard, so add them during layering rather than churning.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Churning
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 380 kcal
- Sugar: 33 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 55 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg
Keywords: Ice Cream, Chocolate, Cherry, Rocky Road, Dessert, Frozen Dessert, Homemade, No Churn, Nuts, Marshmallows, Family Friendly