The holiday season brings joy, baking, and sweet treats, but it can also create anxiety when it comes to finding the perfect gifts. In the past, I’ve spent days contemplating what to give to my loved ones, often feeling like many options were wasteful or irrelevant. Then, one year, inspiration struck, and I discovered the delightful idea of making and gifting fudge. After all, who doesn’t love homemade goodies?
I crafted a sea-salt dark chocolate fudge that was such a hit, it became a year-round request from friends and family. This year, I’m sending them an incredible white chocolate fudge, but not just any fudge. It’s a rocky road white chocolate fudge, bursting with the deliciousness of marshmallows, coconut, almonds, and cranberries. Talk about a mouthful!
So, why is this rocky road fudge the absolute best? Let me share a few reasons:
- It’s a no-bake delight: The most challenging part of this recipe is melting the white chocolate. Apart from that, it’s simply a matter of throwing everything into a bowl.
- Quick and easy: With just 10 minutes to prep and make, plus an additional 30 minutes to set, this fudge comes together in no time.
- Perfect for gifting: It’s easy to pack and pleases everyone, regardless of age. It’s a surefire hit with any crowd!
- Fun for kids: Since there’s no fire, baking, or heavy mixing involved, and plenty of enjoyable mix-ins, it’s a fantastic holiday activity to engage in with the little ones.
Now, what exactly is rocky road? Originally an ice cream flavor, it has become a beloved combination found in chocolates, brownies, cakes, and more. While there are variations of the recipe, marshmallows remain a common denominator, adding a burst of flavor and making it visually appealing.
When it comes to marshmallows, you can use your preferred brand. In India, Haribo and Captain Fruit brands are readily available. If you’re seeking vegan marshmallows, Marshmelts or Campfire are suitable options. Alternatively, you can even ask a local home-baker to make some for you! I recommend using small-sized marshmallows to eliminate the need for cutting. However, if you have larger ones, use scissors to cut them into manageable pieces for even distribution in the fudge. Colored marshmallows enhance the fudge’s appearance, but if you only have white ones, you can add a few drops of food coloring to lightly tint the white chocolate.
Now, onto the white chocolate itself. Any variety that melts easily will work. Avoid using chocolate chips, as they tend to be more challenging to melt smoothly compared to baking bars. There are numerous options for white chocolate available almost everywhere, allowing you to choose between compound or couverture based on your preferences.
In addition to white chocolate, you’ll need condensed milk to give the fudge its delightful texture. Skipping the condensed milk would result in a rocky road chocolate bark instead. I’ve used Nestle, but other brands work fine too.
Coconut plays a significant role in this fudge, offering a perfect balance to the chocolate and condensed milk sweetness while adding a delightful texture. I recommend using finely powdered or shredded dried coconut. Fresh coconut is not suitable for this recipe.
Unroasted, unsalted almonds are a great choice for this fudge, but you can also substitute them with pistachios or use a combination of the two.
For the cranberries, using unsweetened dried ones is best. Feel free to experiment with other dried fruits such as apricots or candied varieties like papaya or pineapple.
With these ingredients, you’ll be ready to create a delectable rocky road white chocolate fudge that will bring joy to your loved ones throughout the year.
Additional mix-in ideas:
The versatility of this recipe is one of its highlights. You have the freedom to easily change or omit ingredients based on your preferences. Not a fan of coconut? Simply skip it. Want to include jelly or tutti-frutti? Go right ahead! Here are some other exciting mix-in suggestions you can try:
- Peanuts, walnuts, macadamia nuts, or hazelnuts
- Dried fruits like apricots, cherries, pineapple, papaya, or strawberries
- Turkish delight or gummy bears
- Chocolate chips
- Popcorn, puffed rice, or cornflakes
- Biscoff, Oreo, or other digestive biscuits
- M&M’s, chocolate or vanilla wafers, or chocolate pieces
- Mini hard pretzels
As you can see, the possibilities are endless! Feel free to experiment and create your own unique variations. So go ahead and delight your friends and family with this tantalizing rocky road fudge. Don’t forget to share your feedback in the comments, And if you’re looking for more recipes to explore, I have plenty you might enjoy:
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White Chocolate Caramel Fudge
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FUDGESICLES
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Strawberry Shortcake Fudge
-
MICROWAVE SALTED CARAMEL FUDGE
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Secret Ingredients (Kind Of) In Mackinac Island’s Most Famous…
Ingredients:
- 8 ounces (225 grams) of white chocolate
- 6 ounces (175 grams) of condensed milk
- 1 ounce (30 grams) of almonds
- 1 ounce (30 grams) of cranberries
- 0.7 ounces (20 grams) of shredded or grated dried coconut
- 1.8 ounces (50 grams) of marshmallows
- A pinch of salt
- ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract
Instructions:
- Line a 6 or 7-inch square pan with parchment paper or foil, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
- Roughly chop the almonds, cranberries, and marshmallows.
- In a microwave-safe bowl or using a double boiler, melt the white chocolate and condensed milk together until you have a smooth and lump-free mixture.
- If using the microwave, heat in intervals, stirring in between to prevent burning.
- Immediately add all the mix-ins – coconut, marshmallows, almonds, cranberries, salt, and vanilla (or any other desired mix-ins) – and mix well to ensure even distribution and coverage in the chocolate.
- Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared pan. Cover loosely and refrigerate for 1 hour to allow the fudge to set.
- Remove from the refrigerator and cut into slices.
- Store the fudge in an airtight container for up to a week.
Enjoy your homemade fudge!
