Rocky Road Cookies

Soft Gourmet Style Rocky Road Cookies

Even if you don’t love rocky road ice cream, you don’t want to pass up these Rocky Road Pudding Cookies! I’m proof that you can dislike the original ice cream version but LOVE this cookie variation!

I just don’t like chocolate ice cream, but a soft chocolate cookie that has chocolate chips with crunchy almonds and gooey marshmallows? Sign me up!

These cookies are even pushed to a gourmet level since they’re rolled in crushed almonds, mini chocolate chips, and marshmallow bits before baking! Every finished cookie looks as if it just came out of the case at a bakery!

Ingredients For Rocky Road Pudding Cookies

• All-Purpose Flour
• Dutch Cocoa Powder
• Instant Chocolate Fudge Pudding Mix
• Malted Milk Powder
• Salt
• Baking Soda
• Salted Butter
• Light Brown Sugar
• Granulated Sugar
• Large Egg
• Pure Vanilla Extract
• Heavy Cream
• Almond Slivers
• Mini Marshmallows
• Chocolate Chips
• Marshmallows Bits

What Is Dutch Processed Cocoa?

Dutch-processed cocoa goes through a process where the cocoa beans are washed with an alkaline solution to neutralize their acidity. The neutralized cocoa beans then make for a cocoa powder that has a more intense chocolaty flavor.

This then encourages the individual chocolate chips to stand out, as well as creating cookies with an intensely deep chocolate flavor! I prefer Ghirardelli brand which can be found in the baking aisle of most grocery stores.

Ingredient Notes

One of the standout ingredients in this fudgy rocky road cookie recipe is the instant chocolate fudge pudding mix. This makes the cookies to be deliciously soft and fudge-like while building on the mouthwatering chocolate flavor of the cocoa powder that’s simply irresistible.

The second ingredient that may stick out is malted milk powder. Though the amount this recipe calls for is small, it produces a depth of flavor throughout the overall cookie that makes this recipe shine and actually taste like ice cream!

The last important (and sometimes hard-to-find) ingredient is Marshmallow Bits. These are tiny dehydrated marshmallows. You can usually find them at the grocery store near the hot cocoa and tea, but they can also be purchased online (affiliate link).

Rocky Road Cookies Step-By-Step Instructions

1. Whisk the flour, Dutch cocoa powder, instant chocolate fudge pudding mix, salt, and baking soda together in a medium bowl. Set this aside.

2. Add the salted butter, light brown sugar, and granulated sugar to a mixing bowl and cream for 2 minutes. Creaming for this long is important to the texture of the cookie.

3. Beat in an egg and pure vanilla extract until thoroughly combined.

4. Alternate adding the dry ingredients with heavy cream in 3 additions. Beginning with the flour mixture and ending with the heavy cream.

5. Fold in the chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, and almond slivers. I prefer to use mini marshmallows in the mix and marshmallow bits for the topping, but you can use bits in the mix instead of mini marshmallows. However, I do not recommend using mini marshmallows for the topping.

6. Crush up the remaining almond slivers and combine them with mini chocolate chips and marshmallow bits in a small bowl.

7. Portion out the dough and press the top of each dough ball into the almond, marshmallow bits, and chocolate chip mixture. Afterward, place them on a baking sheet about 2 inches apart.

8. Bake until the edges of the cookies are just set, and the tops look more matte than glossy. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking pan for 10 minutes, and then transfer them to a wire rack to finish cooling completely.

Serving Fudgy Rocky Road Cookies

These cookies are best enjoyed warm since the chocolate chips will be melted along with pockets of gooey sticky marshmallows. Serve with a tall glass of cold milk as everyone falls in love with their new favorite cookie!

Rocky Road Cookie Substitutions & Variations

• Malted Milk Powder – If needed, this can be swapped out for powdered milk or coffee creamer.
• Butter – Unsalted butter can be used in place of salted butter. To do so, just add ¼ teaspoon of salt to the recipe.
• Nuts – The almond slivers in this rocky road dessert can be swapped out for nuts such as cashews, peanuts, or walnuts if desired.
• Chocolate – Instead of chocolate chips, you can chop up a chocolate bar to create cookies with chocolate chunks instead of chips.
• Pudding Mix – The chocolate fudge pudding mix can be replaced with regular instant chocolate pudding instead.

How To Store Rocky Road Cookies

Store these chewy cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. You can also store them in the freezer for up to 3 months by placing them in a Ziploc bag and squeezing the excess air out.

How To Freeze Cookie Dough To Bake Later

To freeze this cookie dough, pre-portion the dough out and flash freeze it on a baking sheet for 1 hour. Afterward, transfer the frozen cookie dough balls into a labeled gallon-sized freezer bag and squeeze the excess air out.

Store the bag of frozen cookie dough in the freezer for up to 3 months.

More Fantastic Cookie Recipes:

• Cowboy Cookies – Chewy oatmeal-based cookies loaded with mix-ins!
• S’mores Cookies – Your favorite summertime treat made into a deliciously gooey cookie!
• Nancy B’s Bakery Chocolate Chip Cookies (Copycat Recipe) – Yummy homemade cookies!
• Cookie Dough Cookies – The ultimate Crumbl Copycat Recipe!
• Double Tree Cookies – Big, thick, and chewy cookies filled with chocolate chips and walnuts!

This post was originally published in July 2015 and was updated in May 2023 with fresh photos and a retested recipe.