Don’t just go with regular chocolate brownies when you can go with frosted rocky road brownies. Loaded with lots of flavor, peanuts, and mini marshmallows. Inspired by the flavors in rocky road ice cream, this recipe takes fudgy brownies to a whole new level.

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About Rocky Road Brownie Recipe

This recipe includes two delicious layers. On the bottom is a chocolate brownie with chopped nuts, and the top of the brownies includes a chocolate frosting with miniature marshmallows and more peanuts. The combination of gooey marshmallows and crunchy peanuts make these yummy brownies a crowd pleaser.

I love these brownies because they take plain old brownies and turn them into something special. Sure, there’s an extra step involved with the frosting, but it is well worth it. And if you want to cut down the work a bit, you can use a boxed brownie mix to make the brownie base. Just make the brownies according to the instructions for the box mix, and then add the chocolate ganache marshmallow layer.

Frosted Rocky Road Brownies Ingredients — Frosted Rocky Road Brownies

Overview of Rocky Road Brownie Ingredients

Here’s a look at the star ingredients for these frosted rocky road brownies. There aren’t a ton of ingredients, and I like that you don’t need a lot of equipment either. Using a saucepan is the preferred method, but if you’re baking with limited equipment, using the microwave is an option too. You could use a microwave to melt the ingredients and then transfer to a large bowl to mix in the dry ingredients.

For the best results, I recommend using two different saucepans. A small saucepan to make the frosting and a medium or large saucepan to make the brownies. But if you only have one saucepan in your kitchen, just use that.

Chocolate: This recipe uses unsweetened chocolate instead of cocoa powder. The melted chocolate really helps make chewy brownies.

Butter: Use unsalted butter for this rocky road brownies recipe. This recipe uses melted butter, so you don’t have to worry about the butter being room temperature before you start.

Peanuts: While you could use any type of nut, this recipe calls for using a regular peanut. I like to use cocktail peanuts, or party peanuts. Just make sure that whatever type you use, that it doesn’t have skins. And you’ll want to use salted peanuts because they bring out the flavor of the nuts and the chocolate.

Marshmallows: Of course, the key ingredient to gooey rocky road brownies are the marshmallows. Make sure to use mini marshmallows for this recipe. If you’re in a bind and only have large marshmallows, you should cut them up before adding them.

Chocolate Rocky Road Brownies

A chocolate brownie with the perfect combination of crunchy peanuts and soft marshmallows.

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Prep Time 25

Cook Time 20

Cooling time: 30

Total Time 1 15

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Equipment

3-quart saucepan
13x 9 inch baking pan
2-quart saucepan

Ingredients

Brownies

1 cup unsalted butter
4 squares unsweetened chocolate (4 oz total)
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
3 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup salted peanuts chopped

Frosting

1/4 cup butter
3 oz cream cheese
1 square unsweetened chocolate (1 ounce)
1/4 cup milk
2 3/4 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups miniature marshmallows
1 cup salted peanuts

Instructions

For Brownies

Preheat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit.
In a 3-quart saucepan, combine 1 cup butter and 4 squares of chocolate.
Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until melted. Approximately 5-7 minutes.
Add granulated sugar, flour, eggs and 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla. Mix well.
Stir in chopped peanuts
Spread into greased 13×9 inch baking pan.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes, or until brownie starts to pull away from the sides of the pan.
Cool completely.

For Frosting

In a 2-quart saucepan, combine 1/4 cup butter, cream cheese, 1 square chocolate and milk.
Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until melted. Approximately 6-8 minutes.
Remove from heat and add powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla.
Beat with hand mixer until smooth.
Stir in marshmallows and 1 cup peanuts.
Immediately spread over cooked brownies.
Cool completely and cut into bars.
Store in refrigerator.

Keyword brownies, chocolate, frosting, marshmallows, peanuts

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Tips for Making Frosted Rocky Road Brownies

Refrigerating these brownies makes it easier to cut them. And, because there’s cream cheese in the frosting any leftovers should be refrigerated as well. You can cut them up and store in an airtight container. Or, keep in the baking pan and just cover with aluminum foil.

I really prefer gooey brownies so I pull these frosted rocky road brownies out of the refrigerator an hour or two before serving. This way the brownies are softer and they aren’t cold.

For extra chocolate flavor, add chocolate chunks or chocolate chips to the brownie batter before baking.
Be sure to let the brownies cool before adding the chocolate frosting layer, otherwise it will melt right into the brownies.
Don’t use dry-roasted peanuts. Peanuts are the one nut that I don’t toast in the oven before baking with them. But, if you use pecans or walnuts instead I definitely recommend toasting them first.

I hope you enjoy making these frosted rocky road brownies. Add a scoop of ice cream and you’ve got a dessert that is salty, sweet, creamy, and full of flavor. I think these will quickly become your favorite brownies, and if you’re like me, this rocky road brownie recipe will be what you grab when you need an extra special brownie for a party.

More brownie recipes to try:

PB Cup Brownies

Chocolate Pecan Brownies

Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies

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Kristen

I am a self-proclaimed cookie monster who loves chocolate, Disney, and Hallmark movies. I have been baking since childhood, and cookies are my go-to sweet treat. I like to share my favorite family recipes and tips for baking the best old-fashioned cookies with modern twists.

Frosted Rocky Road Brownies: Chewy, Gooey Chocolate