Rocky Road Pudding Parfaits.
Today let’s be kids again.

Because it’s Tuesday, and we all could use something fun to get us through the week. I mean, right?!
RIGHT.


Okay, so I have to keep things short and to the point today. Here goes nothing…
These Rocky Road Pudding Parfaits, they are DELICIOUS, and yes they make you feel 1. like you’re a kid again, and 2. like it’s summertime. Clearly I’m ready for summertime, but clearly I am way ahead of the Summit County, Colorado weather schedule because it’s totally supposed to snow today. Ugh. What’s new.
Anyway, growing up, I was never really that into rocky road ice cream. I dunno why, I think I just didn’t love extras in my ice cream. However, I never knew (or maybe I just didn’t pay attention), that my mom has always loved rocky road ice cream. I only realized this a few years ago, but I wish I would have known sooner. She’s recently kind of turned me on to all things rocky road.
I mean, what’s not to love? Salty almonds, sweet marshmallows and rich chocolate? Yes PLEASE, I am so all for that! 🙂

Since it’s not quite ice cream season yet, I decided to fulfill my rocky road craving with a creamy pudding. Oh yeah, pudding!! Could I be more like a five-year old or what? I think not.
The thing about this pudding is that it’s all homemade, and man it is so good! You’ll never go back to store-bought pudding mixes again. Homemade is where it’s at! 🙂
AND guys, it’s honestly just as easy as using a boxed pudding mix, and takes just as much time. No lie. All you need is some chocolate, cocoa powder, cornstarch, sugar, milk and vanilla. Simple as that. You may even have all these ingredients in your pantry right now.
Meaning you should probably go check and see, cause you pretty much need to make these cute little desserts ASAP. I’m not trying to be demanding or anything, but I really just feel like your Tuesday NEEDS these. You can thank me later. 🙂

So that’s all about the pudding. Let’s talk rocky road and toppings! For my rocky road, I used a combo of roasted almonds, peanuts, mini marshmallows and semi-sweet chocolate chips…I thought I was done there, but then I went and added a handful of pretzels too. I figured I was channeling my inner ten-year old self, so why no go for it!
Good idea for sure!!
The layers in order:
…chocolate pudding – homemade and perfect.
…chocolate pudding whipped cream – for a light airy element.
…rocky road – but stepped up a notch with peanuts, chocolate chips and pretzels. Yum.
…generous scoop of peanut butter cup ICE CREAM, or any flavor you want, but again I was channeling my inner ten-year old, so peanut butter cup all the way!
…drizzle of magic shell – cause why the heck not?!?
and DONE.

You see why you need these like now? So much goodness, so easy to make and well, they just make you feel all good inside. Plus, you can totally pretend it’s summer and you’re back chillin in the warm sun on summer break with not a care in the world.
Reality can take a chill for ten or twenty minutes while you enjoy these.
Trust me.


Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Rocky Road Pudding Parfaits.
By halfbakedharvest
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American, French
Keyword: parfait, pudding, rocky road
Today let's be kids again.
Ingredients
Chocolate Pudding
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- pinch of salt
- 3 cups whole milk or canned full-fat coconut milk
- 2 ounces semi-sweet or dark chocolate chopped
- 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
Cream
- 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
Rocky Road
- 1/2 cup roasted peanuts chopped
- 1/4 cup roasted almonds chopped
- 1/2 cup mini marshmallows
- 1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
- cup vanilla chocolate or chocolate peanut butter ice cream, for serving (optional)
- melted chocolate or hot fudge for serving (optional)
Instructions
-
In a medium size sauce pan, combine the sugar, cocoa powder, pinch of salt and cornstarch and whisk until combined. Slowly pour in the milk, whisking until smooth. Place the pan over medium heat and bring to a low boil, whisking consistently. Cook for about 8-10 minutes or until the mixture has thickened and is pudding like. Remove from the heat and stir in the chopped chocolate and vanilla.
-
Scoop about 3/4 cup of the pudding out into a separate bowl. Cover and place in the fridge to chill. Divide the remaining pudding between 4-6 parfait glasses. Cover and place in the fridge to chill.
-
Meanwhile, add the cream to a large mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer, whip the cream until soft peaks form. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla and whip until combined. Grab the reserved 3/4 cup chocolate pudding from the fridge. Fold the pudding into the whipped cream.
-
Divide the whipped cream among each parfait glass.
-
In a bowl, mix together the peanuts, almonds, marshmallows and chocolate chips. Sprinkle the rocky road evenly over top each parfait. Chill the parfaits, covered until ready to serve.
-
To serve, top each parfaits with a scoop of ice cream and a drizzle of chocolate or fudge sauce. EAT!

They are so good for your sanity. 🙂
i love how dark and chocolatey the pudding looks! ?
Thanks Heather!!
Ok, so I’m kind of ready for Summer desserts like this…
http://bloglairdutemps.blogspot.pt
You and I both!!
i recently found your blog & i’m so glad that i subscribed to your blog.just look at them !!! i’m a huge chocoholic & gonna try them for sure.
YAY SO happy you found my blog!!
Oh Tieghan, these are SO MUCH FUN! Your posts never cease to brighten my mornings… thank you!
I LOVE to hear that!! Thank you!
Holy Crap, T! These are insanely awesome and I’d say your definitely saving my Tuesday here. I NEED one of these, like now!
SO happy to hear it!! Thanks for the kind words as always Tori!! (:
Oh my word – I need this is my life like right now. And yes, I have everything on hand!
PErfect!! Enjoy!
Stop it I am drooling all over my keyboard. May have to make these for my weekend treat!
Sophie xx
http://www.sophieblunt.com
Please do!! And let me know what you think!!
My morning is complete now! I feel like Rocky Road was always the dessert the adults liked and the kids didn’t get why. Now I TOTALLY get it though. So good.
HAHA Right?! Thanks Megan (:
rocky road = for the win = ALWAYS. so much yes in this post.
Thanks Christine!!
HiI! I just love your recipes and I laugh so much reading them! This parfaits are beautiful! ?
Thank you so much Cintia!!
I have so much love for this. I’m ready to be a kid again!
I think we all are (:
ice cream on a Tuesday – you are my kinda girl!
Ice Cream every day(:
I’m thinking these have to happen tonight. Maybe with coconut cream & mini PB cups tossed in with the rocky road?
Tuesday night dessert = the best!
I think that would be delicious! Let me know how it is!!
I’m more than happy to be a child again when these parfaits are involved.
Also AGREED!
Let’s not just be kids today; let’s just remain this way and forever feast on these pudding parfaits! So gorgeous!
AGREED! Thank you(:
I can totally relate because when I was a kid, I didn’t like rock road ice cream either! Anything chocolate ice cream was NO BUENO. Wow, how messed up was I as a kid right?! Now if something DOESN’T have chocolate, I won’t eat it! These parfaits just SCREAM chocolatey magic!
I agree the more chocolate the better!!
I’ve been looking for a good homemade chocolate pudding recipe for awhile now and I’m so glad you posted one! Can’t wait to try it 🙂
Thanks Lucia!! Hope you like it!!
I just made some rocky road bars last week, sadly they didn’t last long and now you’ve got me craving it all over again!
(: hehe hope you love them Hannah
Oh wow, wow, wow, these look amazing, and I am SO HAPPY to see that it is a pudding recipe without egg yolks! I never used to be interested in Rocky Road either (I really have to be in the mood for marshmallow for some reason), but these are swaying me. Can’t wait to savour all those crunchy bits, especially salted almonds, yum!
Yay!! ??
Now that is my kind of dessert.
??
Duuuuuuuude.
Drool.
??? Thank you (:
Count me in Tieghan! These look amazing!
Thanks Mary Ann!!
Just beautiful!!! 😀
Thanks Diana!!?
I made them for dessert last night – delicious and easy to make. Must say the grown-ups seemed indeed to appreciate them even more than the kids 🙂
Thank you glad you guys liked them!
These parfaits are just what I need today, gorgeous!
?? Thanks Laura!!
Hello my favourite food blogger! I made this tonight…it was divine!!!! I will never buy pudding mix ever again. The chocolate flavour was SO rich and luscious. I didn’t have any full fat coconut milk…just low fat coconut milk…so I used half coconut milk and half almond milk. It still turned out great. I LOVE your recipes..you are amazing!!!!
Thanks so much Becca!! Im so happy you loved the pudding! Good choice mixing the two!
Thanks! You rock girl. Keep doing what you’re doing!!!
Thank you Becca!! (:
I love rediscovering desserts that I loved as a kid, and these look like chocolate nutty marshmallow heaven! Thanks for sharing!
xx Allison
(: Thanks Allison!
We had this and it was fantastic. We ended up with extra chocolate cream, so we decided to use it with some strawberries. Then topped it with the buckwheat topping from your banana and chocolate cream pie parfait. It was fantastic. Thanks for all the great recipes!
Ah!! Amazing add ons!! Thank you Paul!!
Rocky road!! The BEST! Love this!
Thanks Eden! Hope you love it!
Your food always looks almost too beautiful to eat!I think I subscribe to your newsletter,but if not,SIGN ME UP!!?.Yummy for my tummy!!
Awh! Thank you! So nice of you!! Have a great day Teri!
Hi there! Awesome recipe! Just one question: is the chocolate pudding meant to be thick or like a mousse? i have it in the fridge now but its just thick…i mean like a thick liquid! is it right? sorry but im very confused just now!!
Hi Manuela!! It;s supposed to be thick, but not like heavy or anything. It’s should light and airy. Did you possibly let it thicken too much on the stove? Hope you love this and let me know if you have other questions. Thanks!!
very nice! will definitely make this:)
Awesome! Thank you Diana!