Fools Gold Loaf

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Quick Bite

A legendary, ultra-caloric sandwich consisting of a hollowed-out loaf of French bread filled with an entire jar of peanut butter, a jar of jelly, and a pound of bacon.

History

The Fool’s Gold Loaf is a famously indulgent sandwich that originated in Denver during the 1970s, at a restaurant called Colorado Mine Company.

The sandwich was created as an over-the-top specialty: a hollowed-out loaf of bread filled with an entire jar of peanut butter, a jar of jelly, and a pound of crispy bacon. It was rich, messy, intentionally excessive, and more of a novelty dish than an everyday meal.

The Fool’s Gold Loaf gained national attention thanks to Elvis Presley, who famously loved the sandwich. According to popular lore, in 1976, Elvis flew from Memphis to Denver late at night with friends just to eat it. The group reportedly consumed multiple sandwiches along with champagne during the visit, cementing the dish’s place in pop culture history.

Although the original restaurant eventually closed, the Fool’s Gold Loaf lives on as a symbol of 1970s American excess and rock-and-roll indulgence, closely tied to Elvis’s legacy and Colorado food lore.

Fun Facts

• “Fool’s Gold” refers to something that looks valuable but is not.
• The name fits a sandwich that is rich, excessive, and definitely not an everyday meal.
• Even though the original restaurant is gone, the sandwich remains one of Colorado’s most talked-about dishes.
• Today, it is often cited as a perfect example of 1970s rock-and-roll indulgence.
• It is big, bold, and unapologetically over the top.

Where to Try

Nick’s Cafe Golden, Colorado

Recipe

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Fool’s Gold Loaf Servings: 6–8 Prep: 15 minutes Cook: None, if bacon is already cooked Difficulty: Easy Style: Colorado Novelty Sandwich

Ingredients

For the sandwich

• 1 loaf Italian or French bread, about 1 lb
• 1 jar creamy peanut butter, 16 oz
• 1 jar grape jelly or preserves, 16 oz
• 1 lb cooked bacon, crispy

Instructions

1. Prepare the loaf: Slice off one end of the bread and hollow out the inside.
2. Leave about a ½-inch thick shell all around.
3. You now have a bread “boat” to hold the fillings.
4. Spread the peanut butter: Spread the entire jar of peanut butter evenly inside the hollowed loaf.
5. Add the jelly: Spread the entire jar of jelly on top of the peanut butter.
6. You can use grape, strawberry, or your favorite preserve.
7. Layer the bacon: Lay all 1 lb of cooked bacon on top of the peanut butter and jelly mixture.
8. Try to cover the filling evenly.
9. Close and serve: Replace the top piece of the loaf if desired, or leave it open-faced.
10. Slice into large portions and serve.

Serving note: This sandwich is extremely rich and intentionally over the top. Sharing is strongly recommended.

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