One of Elvis Presley’s most remarkable food stories begins not at Graceland, but at the Colorado Mine Company, a restaurant near Denver. There, a young cook named Nick Andurlakis introduced Elvis to an enormous sandwich called the Fool’s Gold Loaf: a warm, hollowed-out loaf filled with peanut butter, fruit preserves, and a full pound of crisp bacon. The combination was so memorable that Elvis later flew to Colorado in 1976 for another taste.

Andurlakis later recounted both encounters. His account makes the Fool’s Gold Loaf a documented Elvis favorite, although retellings differ over the precise bread, preserves, and number of sandwiches delivered. This version uses blueberry preserves and a crusty loaf, in keeping with Andurlakis’s descriptions, rather than claiming every detail is settled.

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Recipe Information

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 8 to 10
Difficulty: Easy (2 of 5)
Cost: Moderate ($$$ of $$$$$)
Region/Ethnic Origin: Colorado, United States

Ingredients

• 1 large unsliced loaf of crusty French or sourdough bread, approximately 16 to 20 ounces
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 1 pound sliced bacon
• 1 jar (16 ounces) creamy peanut butter
• 1 jar (12 to 18 ounces) blueberry preserves

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Spread the softened butter over the outside of the bread. Place it on the prepared baking sheet and bake for approximately 10 to 15 minutes, until warmed through and lightly crisp on the outside.
3. While the bread warms, cook the bacon in batches in a skillet over medium heat until crisp. Transfer to paper towels and blot away excess grease.
4. Remove the loaf from the oven. Carefully slice it in half lengthwise, keeping the halves intact. Pull out some of the soft interior to create a generous cavity in each half, leaving enough bread to hold the filling.
5. Spread the peanut butter evenly over the hollowed surfaces of both halves. Spread the blueberry preserves over the peanut butter, then arrange the crisp bacon across the bottom half.
6. Close the loaf, press gently to settle the filling, and cut crosswise into 8 to 10 portions with a serrated knife. Serve while the bread is still slightly warm.

Kitchen Notes

The sandwich was built around a whole loaf rather than ordinary slices. Accounts document both blueberry preserves and grape jelly, so this version uses blueberry without claiming that all historical versions were identical. Jar sizes and loaf dimensions vary; adjust the filling to fit the bread.

A Little Elvis History

The sandwich’s best Easter egg is not an ingredient at all. Nick Andurlakis was still a teenager when he met Elvis at the Colorado Mine Company. When Elvis later returned by private jet for more Fool’s Gold Loaf, Andurlakis helped bring the food to the airport and spent time talking with the star. The unlikely friendship between a young restaurant worker and the King of Rock and Roll is part of what makes this sandwich’s history unforgettable.

Historical Recipe Disclaimer: This collection celebrates foods documented as favorites of Elvis Presley through historical accounts, interviews, family recollections, and published materials. Unless specifically identified as an authenticated historical recipe, the preparations presented here are carefully researched interpretations rather than exact reproductions of dishes served at Graceland. Carter Family Recipes is an independent culinary publication and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Elvis Presley Enterprises, Graceland, or the Presley estate.