Introduction

Levain Bakery Rocky Road Cookies are rich, indulgent treats loaded with chocolate, marshmallows, and crunchy cashews. These thick, gooey cookies have a perfect balance of sweetness and texture that will satisfy any dessert craving.

Levain Bakery Rocky Road Cookies Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients

1 cup Cold Butter (cut into cubes)
1 cup Brown Sugar
1/2 cup Sugar
2 large Eggs
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1/2 cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
1 cup Cake Flour *
1 1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour
1 teaspoon Cornstarch
3/4 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 3/4 cups Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
2 cups Mini Marshmallows
3/4 cup Cashews (roughly chopped)

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 410 degrees Fahrenheit. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the cold butter, brown sugar, and sugar for at least 4 minutes until the mixture is light and creamy.
Step 2: Add the eggs and vanilla extract to the creamed mixture and mix for another minute to combine well.
Step 3: Gently fold in the cocoa powder, cake flour, all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, and chopped cashews evenly throughout the dough.
Step 4: Shape the dough into large balls weighing about 5 to 6 ounces each. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. A light-colored baking sheet is recommended for best results.
Step 5: For a gourmet look, press a few additional chocolate chips and marshmallows onto the tops of each cookie.
Step 6: Bake the cookies for 9-11 minutes. After baking, use a small spatula to gently push the edges of the cookies toward the center to prevent melted marshmallows at the edges and help the cookies maintain their shape while cooling.
Step 7: Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for 15 minutes to set up before transferring them to a wire rack or serving plate.

Tips & Variations

Use cake flour for a tender crumb, but if unavailable, substitute with a mix of all-purpose flour and cornstarch as a replacement.
Swap cashews for walnuts or pecans if you prefer a different nut flavor or texture.
For extra gooey marshmallows, add a few mini marshmallows right before baking and press lightly into the dough tops.
Chilling the dough for 30 minutes before baking can help prevent the cookies from spreading too much.

Storage

Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. To keep marshmallows soft, avoid refrigerating. Reheat briefly in the microwave for about 10 seconds if you want a warm, melty treat.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted?

Yes, but reduce the added salt in the recipe to about 1/4 teaspoon to avoid oversalting.

Why do the cookies need to rest after baking?

Resting allows the cookies to firm up and set their shape, especially important due to the melted marshmallows that can be quite soft when warm.

Levain Bakery Rocky Road Cookies Recipe

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★★★★★

4.8 from 103 reviews

Levain Bakery Rocky Road Cookies are indulgently rich, featuring a chewy chocolate base loaded with semi-sweet chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, and crunchy cashews. With a perfect balance of gooey marshmallows and nutty texture, these cookies are baked to golden perfection, creating a thick, soft, and slightly crisp treat irresistible to chocolate lovers and rocky road fans alike.

Author: Tara
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 8 large cookies (5 to 6 ounces each) 1x
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale

Butter and Sugars

1 cup Cold Butter (cut into cubes)
1 cup Brown Sugar
1/2 cup Sugar

Wet Ingredients

2 large Eggs
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Dry Ingredients

1/2 cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
1 cup Cake Flour
1 1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour
1 teaspoon Cornstarch
3/4 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 teaspoon Salt

Mix-ins

1 3/4 cups Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
2 cups Mini Marshmallows
3/4 cup Cashews (roughly chopped)

Instructions

Preheat and Cream Butter with Sugars: Preheat the oven to 410°F (210°C). In a large mixing bowl, cream the cold cubed butter with brown sugar and sugar for at least 4 minutes until the mixture becomes light, creamy, and fluffy.
Add Eggs and Vanilla: Incorporate the eggs and vanilla extract into the creamed butter mixture and mix for an additional 1 minute until well combined.
Combine Dry Ingredients: Gradually fold in the unsweetened cocoa powder, cake flour, all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt until a uniform dough forms.
Add Mix-ins: Gently fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, and roughly chopped cashews, ensuring even distribution throughout the dough.
Shape Cookies: Roll the dough into large balls weighing 5 to 6 ounces each. Place these balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet, preferably using a light-colored baking sheet to prevent over-browning.
Top and Press: For a gourmet look, place a few extra chocolate chips and mini marshmallows on top of each cookie ball and lightly press them into the dough surface.
Bake: Bake the cookies for 9 to 11 minutes. After removing from the oven, note that marshmallows near the edges may melt and spread. Use a small brownie spatula to gently press the edges of each cookie towards the center to maintain their shape as they cool.
Cool and Set: Allow the cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 15 minutes to set up properly before carefully transferring them to a wire rack or serving plate.

Notes

Using cold butter and beating thoroughly helps achieve the desired chewy texture with a slightly crisp exterior.
A light-colored baking sheet helps prevent the cookies from browning too quickly on the bottom.
If marshmallows melt too much on the edges during baking, pressing the edges towards the center after baking helps keep the cookies thick and shapely.
These cookies are best enjoyed at room temperature after resting to allow flavors to meld and texture to set.
Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days for best freshness.

Keywords: Levain Bakery, Rocky Road Cookies, chocolate cookies, marshmallow cookies, chewy chocolate cookies, cashew cookies, rocky road dessert