Rocky Highway Ice Cream – A Couple Cooks

There’s nothing higher than rocky highway ice cream! This mixture of chocolate ice cream with nuts and marshmallows is a complete basic.

If you happen to’re a fan of ice cream mix-ins, there’s nothing higher than the nice previous basic Rocky Highway Ice Cream! This ice cream taste is nearly a century previous and nonetheless fashionable as ever. The creamy chocolate base holds chunks of toasted nuts and marshmallows, creating irresistible texture and taste contrasts. Make it do-it-yourself and you may add chocolate chunks too (why not?!). Right here’s the most effective do-it-yourself rocky highway ice cream recipe and some notes on the origin of this funky taste!

Why is it referred to as rocky highway ice cream?

The ice cream taste rocky highway was invented in 1929 by enterprise companions William Dreyer and Joseph Edy, who co-founded the ice cream manufacturers Dreyer’s and Edy’s. On the time, ice cream flavors have been easy (vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry). Rocky Highway was one of many first mixture flavors, which used the combination of chocolate, nuts, and marshmallows from a sweet bar that Joseph Edy had invented. The identify alluded to the “rocky” financial instances of the Nice Melancholy.

The story goes that William Dreyer used his spouse’s stitching scissors to chop the marshmallows into items, since there have been no mini marshmallows on the time! The unique ice cream used walnuts, however they have been later changed by toasted almonds. Some variations at this time additionally use chocolate chunks, however the unique model had solely a chocolate base.

Both means, we owe the thought of ice cream mix-ins to Dreyer and Edy, who pioneered the idea within the Twenties! (Ben and Jerry’s thanks them, we’re positive!)

Elements in rocky highway ice cream

Positive, you should buy rocky highway ice cream on the retailer. Nevertheless it’s a enjoyable and satisfying challenge do-it-yourself! There’s nothing higher than that creamy, wealthy chocolaty base with crunchy mix-ins. Right here’s what you’ll want:

• Cornstarch: cornstarch helps to thicken the ice cream and maintain it gentle after freezing; it’s completely important in our ebook!
• Entire milk
• Heavy cream
• Cocoa powder
• Granulated sugar
• Salt
• Vanilla extract
• Almonds (or walnuts)
• Marshmallows
• Chocolate chips or chunks

For the marshmallows

There are a number of choices for the marshmallows in rocky highway ice cream. Seems, it’s difficult to chop marshmallows into items! They’re very sticky, and it’s nearly unimaginable to chop them with a knife. So, we took a cue from the flavour’s inventor, William Dreyer! It’s also possible to use mini marshmallows.

• For giant marshmallows, lower them with kitchen sheers! Dip the scissors into sizzling water earlier than slicing every marshmallow, and if needed wipe off the blades with a towel or paper towel. They’re somewhat fiddly, however we just like the natural look of the big lower shapes.
• Or, use mini marshmallows! These small marshmallows are a lot simpler to handle. Nevertheless, we don’t just like the look as a lot (be at liberty to make use of no matter you select).

Add chocolate chips or chunks if desired

The unique rocky highway ice cream recipe didn’t have chocolate chips or chunks. However to us, the extra chocolate the higher! Some fashionable variations of rocky highway do embrace additional chocolate, however the unique merely used chocolate as the bottom. Use no matter you want (we couldn’t resist somewhat extra chocolate).

Required tools: ice cream maker

This rocky highway ice cream recipe does require one piece of particular tools: an ice cream maker. You’ll discover it’s a fantastic funding you should utilize to make sorbets, sherbet and ice cream 12 months spherical! There are two fundamental sorts of ice cream makers:

• Freezer bowl ice cream maker: The sort of ice cream maker is probably the most economical selection. Right here’s the 2 quart freezer bowl ice cream maker we use; it’s held up very nicely over time. Be sure you freeze the bottom of the ice cream maker in a single day earlier than making this recipe.
• Automated ice cream maker: Do you make ice cream typically? Think about this automated ice cream maker, which is bigger and dearer. It requires no pre-freezing of the bottom, so you may make ice cream on a second’s discover.

make rocky highway ice cream (primary steps)

This do-it-yourself rocky highway ice cream recipe makes use of the basic technique for making ice cream: make a custard on the stovetop, chill it, churn it in an ice cream maker, then freeze to “ripen” the feel. Right here’s what you’ll must do:

• Make the custard (5 minutes): Simmer the cornstarch, complete milk, cocoa powder and sugar for 4 to five minutes. Then add within the heavy cream, extra milk, vanilla, and salt.
• Cool the custard (1 hour or in a single day): Calm down the custard earlier than churning it. You are able to do this in a number of methods. The quickest is to switch the combination to a big steel or glass bowl and place the bowl in a smaller bowl of ice water for 1 hour.
• Churn (25 minutes): Churn the ice cream within the ice cream maker.
• Add combine ins: Add the toasted almonds, marshmallow items, and chocolate chips.
• Freeze or “ripen” for onerous ice cream texture (a minimum of 2 hours or in a single day): Freeze the ice cream for two hours or in a single day for a scoop-able, onerous ice cream texture.

Extra ice cream flavors

And that’s it! Tell us in case you do this do-it-yourself rocky highway ice cream and what you assume! (Edy and Dreyer can be proud.) If you happen to’ve bought an ice cream maker, are a number of extra basic ice cream flavors you would possibly take pleasure in: