diff --git a/include/obj.h b/include/obj.h
index 670b3ee60d..c8f05cf50d 100644
--- a/include/obj.h
+++ b/include/obj.h
@@ -476,6 +476,11 @@ struct obj {
 #define thiefstone_ledger_valid(stone) \
     ((stone)->keyed_ledger > 0 && (stone)->keyed_ledger <= maxledgerno())
 
+/* special holiday fruits are differentiated from user-defined fruits by
+ * negative spe */
+#define is_holiday_fruit(obj) ((obj)->otyp == SLIME_MOLD && (obj)->spe < 0)
+#define fruit_id(obj) (abs((obj)->spe))
+
 /*
  *  Notes for adding new oextra structures:
  *
diff --git a/src/bones.c b/src/bones.c
index c1b2c8154c..ab616af8a6 100644
--- a/src/bones.c
+++ b/src/bones.c
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ resetobjs(struct obj *ochain, boolean restore)
             }
 
             if (otmp->otyp == SLIME_MOLD) {
-                goodfruit(otmp->spe);
+                goodfruit(fruit_id(otmp));
 #ifdef MAIL_STRUCTURES
             } else if (otmp->otyp == SCR_MAIL) {
                 /* 0: delivered in-game via external event;
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ drop_upon_death(struct monst *mtmp, /* monster if hero turned into one (other th
         otmp->owt = weight(otmp);
 
         if (otmp->otyp == SLIME_MOLD)
-            goodfruit(otmp->spe);
+            goodfruit(fruit_id(otmp));
 
         if (rn2(5))
             curse(otmp);
diff --git a/src/eat.c b/src/eat.c
index 8523e170cb..0311ac2590 100644
--- a/src/eat.c
+++ b/src/eat.c
@@ -2385,6 +2385,34 @@ fpostfx(struct obj *otmp)
             if (!u.uconduct.literate++)
                 livelog_printf(LL_CONDUCT, "became literate by reading the fortune inside a cookie");
         break;
+    case SLIME_MOLD: 
+        if (is_holiday_fruit(otmp)) {
+            struct fruit *f = fruit_from_indx(fruit_id(otmp));
+            if (!rn2(8) && f && !strcmp("slice of king cake", f->fname)) {
+                static const int babies[] = {
+                    PM_BABY_CROCODILE,
+                    PM_BABY_LONG_WORM,
+                    PM_BABY_PURPLE_WORM,
+                    PM_BABY_GRAY_DRAGON,
+                    PM_BABY_GOLD_DRAGON,
+                    PM_BABY_SILVER_DRAGON,
+                    PM_BABY_RED_DRAGON,
+                    PM_BABY_WHITE_DRAGON,
+                    PM_BABY_ORANGE_DRAGON,
+                    PM_BABY_BLACK_DRAGON,
+                    PM_BABY_BLUE_DRAGON,
+                    PM_BABY_GREEN_DRAGON,
+                    PM_BABY_YELLOW_DRAGON,
+                };
+                struct obj *feve = mksobj(FIGURINE, TRUE, FALSE);
+                set_corpsenm(feve, babies[rn2(SIZE(babies))]);
+                set_material(feve, PLASTIC);
+                There("is a plastic baby inside the slice of king cake!");
+                hold_another_object(feve, "It falls to the floor.",
+                                    (const char *) 0, (const char *) 0);
+            }
+        }
+        break;
     case LUMP_OF_ROYAL_JELLY:
         /* This stuff seems to be VERY healthy! */
         gainstr(otmp, 1, TRUE); /* will -1 if cursed */
diff --git a/src/mkobj.c b/src/mkobj.c
index 57c12f6878..cb73aac93d 100644
--- a/src/mkobj.c
+++ b/src/mkobj.c
@@ -990,7 +990,8 @@ mksobj(int otyp, boolean init, boolean artif)
                         /* fruitadd requires a modifiable string */
                         char foodbuf[BUFSZ];
                         Strcpy(foodbuf, foods[rn2(idx)]);
-                        otmp->spe = fruitadd(foodbuf, NULL);
+                        /* holiday fruits have negative spe */
+                        otmp->spe = -fruitadd(foodbuf, NULL);
                     }
                 }
                 flags.made_fruit = TRUE;
diff --git a/src/objnam.c b/src/objnam.c
index 3ae21629f8..93653daf15 100644
--- a/src/objnam.c
+++ b/src/objnam.c
@@ -631,7 +631,7 @@ xname_flags(
     case FOOD_CLASS:
         /* we could include partly-eaten-hack on fruit but don't need to */
         if (typ == SLIME_MOLD) {
-            struct fruit *f = fruit_from_indx(obj->spe);
+            struct fruit *f = fruit_from_indx(fruit_id(obj));
 
             if (!f) {
                 impossible("Bad fruit #%d?", obj->spe);
diff --git a/src/options.c b/src/options.c
index 5e2f2d861c..32de4bec85 100644
--- a/src/options.c
+++ b/src/options.c
@@ -7172,7 +7172,7 @@ fruitadd(char *str, struct fruit *replace_fruit)
     char buf[PL_FSIZ], altname[PL_FSIZ];
     boolean user_specified = (str == g.pl_fruit);
     /* if not user-specified, then it's a fruit name for a fruit on
-     * a bones level or from orctown raider's loot...
+     * a bones level, a holiday food, or from orctown raider's loot...
      */
 
     /* Note: every fruit has an id (kept in obj->spe) of at least 1;
diff --git a/src/restore.c b/src/restore.c
index 9e25f8ed95..77b279f703 100644
--- a/src/restore.c
+++ b/src/restore.c
@@ -507,13 +507,18 @@ ghostfruit(register struct obj* otmp)
     register struct fruit *oldf;
 
     for (oldf = g.oldfruit; oldf; oldf = oldf->nextf)
-        if (oldf->fid == otmp->spe)
+        if (oldf->fid == fruit_id(otmp))
             break;
 
-    if (!oldf)
+    if (!oldf) {
         impossible("no old fruit?");
-    else
+    } else {
+        boolean holiday_food = is_holiday_fruit(otmp);
         otmp->spe = fruitadd(oldf->fname, (struct fruit *) 0);
+        if (holiday_food) {
+            otmp->spe = -(otmp->spe);
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 #ifdef SYSCF