Rocklea Road, a combination of chocolate, marshmallow, coconut and peanuts, was developed by Harry Lea as a gift for his wife Esther. It has survived the demise of Darrell Lea stores and changes of ownership which saw the company’s range slashed from 800 to 100 products. Although the most famous of Australia’s Rocky Road confections, it was not the first.
The origin of Rocky Road is unclear. There is a legend doing the rounds of the internet that it was first heard of in 1853 in Australia when marshmallows and local nuts were added to chocolate damaged in transit from England. The name purportedly relates to the rocky roads the confection had to travel on its way to the goldfields.
I have not been able to find any early references to Rocky Road and find this story to be extremely unlikely. To begin with, marshmallows as a confection don’t begin to appear in Australian newspapers until the 1890s, with confectionery ranges more likely to include them in the early 1900s. Before this, references to marshmallow were as a medicinal substance extracted from the marshmallow plant, used as a poultice or included with liquorice in throat lozenges. No marshmallows, no Rocky Road.
The earliest references I can find to Rocky Road are in America. The Orchid Sweet Shop in Santa Cruz was advertising Rocky Road Creams in 1920 and after this, a number of newspapers carried recipes for making Rocky Road at home. The early recipes included chocolate, marshmallow and walnuts. By 1937, Rocky Road candy was being advertised in Oregon and California for 33 cents a pound.
In America, Rocky Road is best known as an ice cream flavour. This was invented in Oakland, California, in 1929 and included almonds rather than walnuts. It was first served at an ice cream shop run by William Dreyer and Joseph Edy, but according to Oakland’s historic Fentons Creamery, the idea came from Melvin Fenton, grandson of their founder.
Rocklea Road differs from the American Rocky Roads in that it contains coconut. Even then, Darrell Lea was not the first. “Rocky Roads” was advertised by Myer in Adelaide in 1933 as a “Delicious combination of Chocolate, Cocoanut and Marshmallow. Usually 2/-. At Myer’s 1/6d lb.” Perhaps the most we can credit Harry Lea with is perfecting the chocolate, coconut, marshmallow and peanut combination to create the most distinctive Australian version of this popular treat.
FAQs
One theory suggests that Rocky Road emerged in Australia around 1853 as a clever way to salvage spoiled ingredients imported from the UK. These past-their-prime ingredients were allegedly mixed with chocolate and nuts to mask their off-flavours. Nowadays, of course, Rocky Road ingredients are perfectly fresh!
What is the history of Rocky Road Cake? ›
The Rocky Road dessert was first created in Australia in 1853. Unscrupulous businessmen took confectionery items that had been spoiled by their journey from Europe and mixed them with local nuts as well as low quality chocolate to try to recover them instead of throwing them out.
When was the Rocky Road candy bar invented? ›
The history of the Rocky Road candy bar goes back to 1950. It was in this year that Russian immigrant Sam Altshuler started the Annabelle Candy Company in San Francisco, California.
Where did Rocky Road ice cream originate? ›
Dreyer, who first began creating ice cream during the Great Depression, thought people could use some cheering up during this difficult time. Partnering with candy maker Joseph Edy, he debuted the first incarnation of the now famous flavor in Oakland, California in 1929.
What is the original rocky road? ›
ABOUT THIS FLAVOR
Nothing beats The Original. Our founders created this classic almost 100 years ago and we continue honor it with every scoop! We start with our classic chocolate ice cream, and fold in crunchy almonds and bite size chewy marshmallows for the perfect scoop every time.
What is the difference between rocky road and Rocklea Road? ›
Rocklea Road differs from the American Rocky Roads in that it contains coconut. Even then, Darrell Lea was not the first. “Rocky Roads” was advertised by Myer in Adelaide in 1933 as a “Delicious combination of Chocolate, Cocoanut and Marshmallow.
What is Elvis Presley cake? ›
An Elvis Presley cake is a single-layer classic yellow cake that's topped with a pineapple glaze. Much like a poke cake, the syrup and juices of the pineapple will seep into the cake through fork holes, resulting in a decadent, ultra-moist cake.
Is Rocky Road almonds or peanuts? ›
You'll want to travel down this road! This rich chocolate ice cream loaded with almonds and heaps of miniature marshmallows is a classic favorite that's fun to share.
Is there a candy called Rocky Road? ›
Rocky Road candy bars are delightfully light, fluffy marsh- mallow, topped with roasted cashew nuts and covered with rich milk chocolate. There is no relationship to the ice cream by the same name.
What is the oldest candy bar still sold? ›
Fry & Sons and currently manufactured by Cadbury. Launched in 1866—nineteen years after Fry's created the first moulded, solid chocolate eating bar (in 1847)— Fry's Chocolate Cream is the first mass-produced chocolate bar and is the world's oldest chocolate bar brand.
The Original Rocky Road Ice Cream | Dreyer's® Rocky Road.
What candy bar was named after a popular dance? ›
Charleston Chew is a candy bar consisting of marshmallow flavored nougat covered in chocolate flavor coating. It was created in 1922 by the Fox-Cross Candy Company, founded by stage actor Donley Cross and his friend Charlie Fox. The candy was named after the Charleston, a popular dance at that time.
Why are there marshmallows in Rocky Road? ›
It was developed in 1929 by William Dreyer, founder of Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream. He cut up some marshmallows with his wife's sewing shears and stirred them into chocolate ice cream along with some walnuts. The name was said to have been a wry comment on the economic times.
What is the difference between Double Dutch and Rocky Road? ›
Double Dutch: Vanilla ice cream with cashews, chocolate chips, marshmallows & chocolate sauce. Rocky Road: Chocolate ice cream with marshmallows & peanuts.
Did Edys invent Rocky Road? ›
In honor of William Dreyer and Joseph Edy's creation of Rocky Road, one of the first ever ice creams with mix-ins, Edy's® launches its most indulgent line ever: The Rocky Road Collection.
What is the most famous road in Australia? ›
The Great Ocean Road is one of Australia's most thrilling drives, studded with dramatic views of rugged coastline. Take it slow and enjoy the breathtaking views along this iconic stretch of road before heading inland to discover dense forests and misting waterfalls.
What is the oldest road in Australia? ›
Parramatta Road is Australia's oldest highway. Tracing an ancient path used by the First Peoples of the area for generations, by the early-1790s the route had been adopted by British Colonists as the predominant land crossing between the settlements of Sydney Cove and Parramatta.
When was the first road built in Australia? ›
Prior to European settlement, the earliest needs for trade and travel were met by narrow bush tracks, used by tribes of Indigenous Australians. The formal construction of roads began in 1788, after the founding of the colony of New South Wales, and a network of three major roads across the colony emerged by the 1820s.
What is a fact about rocky road? ›
The origin of the dessert is debated, but the earliest mention of it dates back to 1853 in Australia, where rocky road was supposedly created as a way to sell confectionery that had spoiled during the long trip from Europe, which were mixed with locally-grown nuts and cheap chocolate to disguise the flavour.
