A Sweet Tradition

Ah, Christmas! The time of year that can inspire either sheer excitement or a groan of dread, depending on your personal history. For many, the holiday season conjures up images of family, twinkling lights, and joyful celebrations. But for others—like myself—it can bring a mix of memories filled with stress, exhaustion, and long days spent working in retail or healthcare. It's easy to forget the true magic of Christmas when you're on the frontline of customer complaints, chaotic shopping frenzies, or, in my case, a nurse’s unpredictable shifts.

But then something beautiful happened. I became a mum.

Suddenly, the lens through which I saw Christmas shifted. I wanted to create a magical experience for my daughter—one filled with joy, wonder, and, of course, all the best traditions. No longer do I see Christmas as a stressful, exhausting time of year. Instead, it’s a season of love, fun, homemade treats and creating new traditions with my young family!

Add ins: Frog lollies, KitKat, Oreos, Marshmallows, Maltesers & Scotch finger bickies

Why is Rocky Road so mouth-wateringly good?

Well if you’ve never had homemade Rocky Road, you’re missing out. Seriously, it's one of those sweet treats that hits all the right notes: sweet, crunchy, chewy, melty, marshmallowy—basically, it’s a little bite of heaven in every mouthful. Rocky Road isn’t just a treat; it’s an experience. And the best part? It’s a tradition that, like Christmas itself, can be adapted and reimagined in countless ways.

But here’s the thing - it has to be homemade. Rocky Road just isn’t the same when bought from the shop!! You simply can’t buy the deliciousness that you can make at home from the store. Why? Because store-bought Rocky Road lacks the soul and personal touch that comes with making it from scratch. Not to mention it’s fun and easy to make. It’s a perfect treat to make with friends and family. Plus the chef gets to lick the bowl!

And as we all know, Christmas is all about togetherness.

Make Rocky Road a Family Tradition

What makes homemade Rocky Road so special is that it’s entirely customisable. You can make it as simple or as decadent as you want, experimenting with different flavour combinations to create the ultimate indulgence. In my family, it’s a tradition I have with my cousin to whip up a big batch every Christmas. We try a new flavour variety every year!! Here are some of my favourite combinations:

1. Milk Choc Rocky Road:

- Milk chocolate

- Marshmallows

- Crushed digestive biscuits or Scotch finger Bickies

- Raspberry lollies

- Oreos

2. Caramilk Rocky Road:

- Caramilk chocolate

- M&Ms

- Oreos

- Scotch finger bickies or another shortbread

- Maltesers

- Marshmallows

- Shredded Coconut

3. Dark Choc Ginger Rocky Road:

- 80% dark chocolate

- Uncrystallised Ginger

- Scotch Finger bickies or another shortbread

- White Marshmallows

4. Tropical Rocky Road:

- White chocolate

- Dried pineapple and mango

- Toasted coconut

- Macadamia nuts or cashews

- Meringue

- Passionfruit pulp to drizzle

How To Make This Delicious Treat/ Edible Christmas Gift

Here’s a simple recipe that you can follow to create your very own festive Rocky Road. It takes just a few minutes of preparation and a little time to set, making it the perfect treat for busy holiday schedules.

Ingredients:

- 600g of good-quality milk chocolate (or Caramilk or dark chocolate, if you prefer)

- 200g of marshmallows

- 250g of digestive biscuits or Scotch Finger Biscuits (roughly chopped)

- 250g of Oreos (broken into chunks)

- 100g of raspberry lollies or Allens frogs

- 10 snack size KitKats chopped in 3rds

- 50g of M&Ms to top

Method:

1. Melt the Chocolate

Break up the chocolate into small pieces and place them in a heatproof bowl. Melt them gently over a double boiler or in the microwave in short bursts, stirring occasionally until smooth and creamy.

2. Prepare the Dry Ingredients

While the chocolate is melting, roughly chop the nuts and dried fruit. Break the biscuits into rough chunks (they don’t need to be uniform), and then add all these ingredients to a large mixing bowl.

3. Combine

Once the chocolate has melted, pour it over the dry ingredients and mix everything together. Stir gently until all the dry ingredients are evenly coated in chocolate.

4. Add the Marshmallows

Fold in the marshmallows at the very end, being careful not to crush them too much. These are the key to that chewy, marshmallowy goodness.

5. Set the Rocky Road:

Pour the mixture into a lined baking tray or a silicone mold, pressing it down gently to make sure it’s compact. Sprinkle a pinch of sea salt on top for a delicious contrast to the sweetness (trust me, this step is worth it).

6. Refrigerate

Place the tray in the fridge and allow it to set for at least 2-3 hours, or until firm.

7. Slice and Enjoy

Once set, remove from the fridge and cut into squares. You can store it in an airtight container for up to a week in the fridge (if it lasts that long!). Please be warned that YOU CAN NEVER STOP AT ONE PIECE.

Ask Conor - I just made milk chocolate Rocky Road and caramilk Rocky Road over the weekend- they are both gone!

But don’t just take my word for it, make it and let me know!

Christmas Rocky Road