Festive Recipes: Christmas Rocky Road

The History of Rocky Road. 

There are a few different versions of history surrounding the origin of the delicious confection, Rocky Road. The earliest version of history dates back to 1853 in sunny Australia where the dish was apparently made as a method of selling confectionery that had spoiled on the way back from Europe. The spoiled ingredients were mixed with cheap chocolate and nuts that had been locally grown to disguise the flavour of the spoiled food. The name ‘Rocky Road’ supposedly came from the journey that travellers had to name in order to reach the gold fields. The recipe varies depending on the country that makes it with Australia using marshmallows, nuts (peanuts in particular), milk chocolate, raspberries or glace cherries and shredded coconut. The recipe often used by those in the United Kingdom consists of milk chocolate, dried fruit, biscuit and a light dusting of icing sugar. Whilst the Australian and United Kingdom’s recipe retains the basics of milk chocolate, nuts, fruit and marshmallow, America removes the fruit component completely, opting for the basics of marshmallows, milk chocolate and either almonds or walnuts. 

Christmas Rocky Road Recipe.

Ingredients:

  • 400g of Milk or Plain Chocolate (or a mixture), chopped
  • 250g of Christmas biscuits such as chocolate biscuits or shortbread
  • 140g of Golden Syrup (weigh straight into the pan you are using for melting)
  • 100g of Butter, cut into cubes and extra for the tin
  • 75g of Christmas Sweets such as jelly sweets, candy canes, marshmallows, etc
  • 2 tbsp of Sprinkles or more sweets to decorate
  • 75g of Shelled Nuts
  • 100g of Mixed Dried Fruit such as cherries and raisins

Equipment:

  • 20cm Square Tin or 20cm Square Silicone Mould
  • Knife
  • Large Mixing Bowl
  • Pan
  • Wooden Spoon
  • Heat Proof Bowl
  • Small Pan
  • Baking Paper
  • Chopping Board

Method:

  1. First of all, let’s begin by buttering and lining your 20cm square silicone mould or square tin and breaking your biscuits into pieces. The biscuits pieces need to be no smaller than a pea and should not be too chunky otherwise your rocky road may not hold together.
  2. Using a knife and chopping board, halve any of the larger nuts and combine them with your biscuits. Again, using the knife you should halve and of the larger pieces of dried fruit and sweets and add them to the bowl. 
  3. Place your pan over a medium heat and melt the 300g of chocolate, 100g of butter and 140g of golden syrup whilst stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon. Once the mixture has melted, pour it over the mixture of biscuits and nuts and mix it together so the chocolate covers everything.
  4. Pour the mixture into the tin and use the wooden spoon to level the top, but as it is called rocky road, don’t worry about making it completely smooth. Grab yourself a heat proof bowl and melt the remaining chocolate in the microwave in short blasts or alternatively, you can melt it over a small pan of simmering water. Drizzle the melted chocolate over the top of the rocky road and sprinkle your decorations over it. You will now need to chill the rocky road in the fridge either overnight or for at least 3 hours before cutting it into squares, ready for you to enjoy. Once made, the rocky road will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days. 

Festive Recipe Blog Series:

If you have enjoyed reading about the history of the yule log and following the recipe, you can read all about Caramel Chocolate Yule LogsMince Pies, Hanukkah Dish, Sufganiyot and fan favourite, Mary Berry’s Classic Christmas Cake before returning next week to see which gorgeous dish we’ll be baking together.

Great British Bake Off Blog Series:

If you are maxed out on the festive recipe series, you can find inspiration from our blog series on The Great British Bake Off 2021 that features some seriously delicious recipes, including Paul Hollywood’s Ciabatta and Tzatziki Dip during bread week and the mouth-watering Jammy Biscuits from biscuit week.

Bake Off Kitchen Appliances:

You may have noticed the beautiful appliances in the Bake Off tent, with hidden oven doors and pastel fridges, the tent was designed for beauty and ease. If you are wondering where to purchase these items, you can read more about the appliances here.

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