Homemade Rocky Road Ice Cream is creamy chocolate and almond-flavored ice cream loaded with chewy marshmallows, crunchy almonds, and flecks of chocolate.

Ice cream is the perfect way to celebrate nearing the end of summer. (For those of us living in the desert, the end of summer is a serious reason to celebrate!)

The most popular question I get is whether it’s possible to make ice cream without a machine. The answer is YES. You can make ice cream without a machine. Find the full directions here!

If you’re new to homemade ice cream and all of the deliciousness that awaits you, I recommend starting with The Best and Easiest Ice Cream recipe. It’s perfect both for ice cream makers and for making ice cream without a machine.

If you’re a fan of rocky road, you’ll want to try Rocky Road Fudge and Rocky Road Chocolate Bark too!

Rocky Road Ice Cream Recipe

1. Whisk together the sugar, cocoa, and salt in a medium-size saucepan. Add the cream and milk, stir, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat while stirring frequently. Lower the heat and simmer for 2 minutes.
2. Remove from the heat and add the chocolate chips, vanilla, and almond extract. Stir to dissolve the chocolate. Let cool and then refrigerate for at least 6 hours, until cold.
3. Pour the chilled mixture into your ice cream machine and freeze according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
4. When it has finished churning, transfer to an airtight container, add the marshmallows and almonds and stir to combine. Cover and freeze until ready to serve. 

And as you likely already know, I could never have enough ice cream in my life. For more awesome ice cream recipes, check out our current favorites!

{originally published 8/20/15 – recipe notes and photos updated 4/20/22}