Christmas Rocky Road Recipes

CHRISTMAS ROCKY ROAD

Steps:

• Butter and line a 20cm square tin, or use a 20cm square silicone mould. Break the biscuits into pieces - they need to be no smaller than a pea, but not too chunky or your rocky road won't hold together.
• Halve any larger nuts either by snapping them or carefully cutting with a knife, then combine them with the biscuits. Halve any large pieces of dried fruit and chop or snap sweets into smaller pieces, then add these to the bowl.
• Melt 300g of the chocolate, the butter and the golden syrup carefully in a pan set over a low heat, stirring occasionally, then pour this over the biscuit and nut mixture and mix together so the chocolate covers everything.
• Tip the mixture into the tin, then level the top - it doesn't need to be completely smooth. Melt the remaining chocolate in the microwave in short blasts, or in a heatproof bowl over a small pan of simmering water, then drizzle this over the top and sprinkle with the decorations. Chill for at least 3 hrs or overnight before cutting into squares. Will keep in the fridge for three to four days.

WHITE CHOCOLATE ROCKY ROAD

Steps:

• Butter a 20 x 5cm deep square baking tray and line with baking parchment. Melt the chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water, ensuring the base of the bowl doesn't touch the water. Stir occasionally until fully melted and smooth.
• Mix the custard creams, pistachios, dried cherries and marshmallows into the melted chocolate mixture, reserving a little of each to decorate later, until evenly coated. Tip the rocky road mixture into the prepared tray, smooth the surface with the back of a wooden spoon, then poke the reserved ingredients and jazzies into the top and scatter with the sprinkles. Chill in the fridge for at least 2 hrs until firm, or overnight.
• Run a sharp kitchen knife under a hot tap, wipe dry, then cut the rocky road into 16 squares. Will keep in an airtight container for up to two weeks.

CHRISTMAS ROCKY ROAD - NIGELLA LAWSON

Steps:

• Place the dark and milk chocolate pieces into a heavy-based pan. Add the butter and golden syrup and cook over a low heat to melt and combine.
• Place the amaretti biscuits into a freezer bag and bash with a rolling pin to make crumbs of various sizes.
• Place the Brazil nuts into another freezer bag and bash in the same way.
• Take the pan of melted chocolate mixture off the heat and add the crushed biscuits and nuts.
• Add the glacé cherries and mini marshmallows. Fold the mixture carefully to coat all of the solid ingredients with the syrupy chocolate mixture.
• Pour the mixture into a 25cm/10in x 30cm/12in greased and lined baking tray (Swiss roll pan) and smooth the surface as much as possible (although it will look bumpy).
• Refrigerate for two hours, or until firm enough to cut. Dust with icing sugar, then sprinkle with edible glitter if you wish.
• Remove the block of rocky road from the tray and cut into 24 rectangles.