Rich and dark chocolate ice cream studded with mini marshmallows and toasted hazelnuts is a perfect indulgence to help beat the heat.

Dark Chocolate Rocky Road Ice Cream with Hazelnuts from completelydelicious.com

I never cared much for rocky road ice cream as a kid. I think it was the nuts.

Fast forward 20 years to last week when I realized I still hadn’t given rocky road the second chance it deserves. 20 years without the combination of chocolate ice cream, marshmallows and nuts? I must be nuts. And so I made batch of rocky road ice cream.

Dark Chocolate Rocky Road Ice Cream with Hazelnuts from completelydelicious.com

Rocky road ice cream is traditionally made with chopped almonds, though just about any nut will do. So I went with hazelnuts since they are one of my favorites, especially when chocolate is also involved. And what a lovely combination they make in this ice cream!

One last tasty twist I added to this recipe was doubling the amount of bittersweet chocolate in the recipe and lowering the sugar content. The result is a dark chocolaty ice cream base that I’m still swooning over.

Rocky road ice cream, welcome to my life! I think we’re going to get along just fine.

Dark Chocolate Rocky Road Ice Cream with Hazelnuts from completelydelicious.com

baking tip:How long does ice cream last in the freezer

To be honest, ice cream doesn’t usually last very long in our house before we gobble it up. But it will usually keep in the freezer for 2-4 months. The best way to store ice cream is with plastic wrap placed directly on the surface on the ice cream as well as a lid to cover the container. This will prevent ice crystals from forming and the ice cream from picking up other flavors from inside the freezer, commonly referred to as “freezer burn”.


Dark Chocolate Rocky Road Ice Cream with Hazelnuts from completelydelicious.com

Dark Chocolate Rocky Road Ice Cream with Hazelnuts

Servings: 8 (1/2 cup) servings
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Chill/Freeze Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 20 minutes
Rich and creamy dark chocolate ice cream with mini marshmallows and toasted hazelnuts.

Ingredients
 

  • 1 cup whole milk (237 ml)
  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream (475 ml)
  • ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder (20 grams)
  • 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate , chopped or use chips (170 grams)
  • cup granulated sugar (66 grams)
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 tablespoon instant espresso , optional
  • 5 large egg yolks
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup mini marshmallows (43 grams)
  • ½ cup hazelnuts or other nuts , chopped and toasted (70 grams)

Instructions
 

  • In a medium saucepan set over medium heat, combine the milk, 1 cup of the cream, cocoa powder, bittersweet chocolate, sugar, salt and espresso (if using). Heat until steaming, stirring frequently until smooth.
  • Meanwhile, whisk the egg yolks together in a large bowl. Very slowly pour the hot chocolate mixture into the egg yolks while whisking constantly until it is all combined. Pour the mixture back into the saucepan and return to medium-high heat. Cook until mixture coats the back of a spoon, while stirring constantly, about 5 minutes.
  • Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and the remaining 1 cup of heavy cream. If desired, pour through a mesh strainer to remove any lumps. Chill completely in the fridge, for at least 2 hours.
  • Freeze in an ice cream machine according to manufacturer's instructions. During the last 5 minutes of freezing, add the mini marshmallows and chopped hazelnuts. Transfer ice cream to a large bowl or plastic container. Cover and place in the freezer for at least 2 hours before serving.

Notes

Adapted from The Perfect Scoop.
Calories: 524kcal, Carbohydrates: 40g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 39g, Saturated Fat: 21g, Cholesterol: 208mg, Sodium: 49mg, Potassium: 332mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 30g, Vitamin A: 1097IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 113mg, Iron: 2mg
Cuisine: American
Course: Dessert
Author: Annalise
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