Description
Christmas Rocky Road is a festive, no-bake holiday treat combining rich semi-sweet chocolate, almond butter, roasted almonds, dried cranberries, mini marshmallows, and fresh pomegranate seeds, seasoned with warm spices. This easy-to-make dessert is perfect for gifting or sharing at holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Rocky Road Ingredients
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ¼ cup unsweetened almond butter
- 2 tablespoons butter or vegan butter
- ⅓ cup roasted almonds, roughly chopped
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
- 1 ½ cups mini marshmallows
- ½ large pomegranate, seeds removed
Spices and Flavorings
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 1/16 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/16 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/16 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Prep and Melt: Line a standard loaf pan with parchment paper. For a double batch, use a 9x9 or 8x8 inch square pan. In a medium pot over low heat, melt together the semi-sweet chocolate chips, almond butter, butter, vanilla extract, salt, ground ginger, ground allspice, and ground cinnamon. Stir frequently to ensure the mixture melts smoothly and does not burn.
- Mix-ins: Stir in the roughly chopped roasted almonds and dried cranberries. Remove the pot from heat and allow the mixture to cool for 3-5 minutes so it’s slightly warm but not hot enough to melt the marshmallows. Gently fold in the mini marshmallows, coating them evenly with the chocolate mixture.
- Assemble and Chill: Pour and spread the mixture evenly into the lined pan, pressing gently with a spatula to fill the corners and compact the mixture. Generously sprinkle the fresh pomegranate seeds over the top. Refrigerate the pan until the Rocky Road is firm, about 2 hours.
Notes
- 1/16 teaspoon equals half of a ⅛ teaspoon and represents a small pinch of each holiday spice to balance flavors.
- Store leftover Christmas Rocky Road in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or at cool room temperature for 2-3 days; the candy can last longer, but pomegranate seeds spoil faster.
- To make vegan, use vegan butter or coconut oil and vegan marshmallows such as Dandies, which are also gluten-free.
- For a gluten-free version, choose gluten-free marshmallow brands like Jet Puffed or Campfire, which are considered safe for people with celiac disease.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 5 mg
