Mad Ox Bakery is a small bakery in Council Bluffs, Iowa, with a cozy atmosphere and spectacular baked goods; everything from cakes and donuts, to cinnamon rolls and candies. With a prior baking experience Karris Mattox and her husband Matthew Mattox decided to open a bakery of their own, their goal, to offer different baked goods that you can’t normally find at  grocery stores.

“We wanted our bakery to be a place you could hang out, play some games and enjoy friends or family while eating some great baked goods,” Mattox said.

 To create that atmosphere,  they have comic book posters all over the walls and mix matched tables throughout the bakery,  eliminating a sense of “perfectness”and making it feel more cozy. But the real star is the baked goods.

Everything is homemade, and they don’t use pre-made or frozen ingredients.

“This means we work very early and long hours to make sure we have everything ready for our customers to enjoy. A typical day for Matthew and me is usually 14-17 hours. Getting to work around 4:30 or 5 a.m. and leaving around 7-9 p.m.” Mattox said.

They said most of their recipes are either invented by them, or from childhood goodies they used to make with their parents. They have amazing chocolate donuts that are moist and delicious, and about $1 to $2. Croissant pastries have the perfect crunchy outside with a variety of fillings, such as chocolate and cherry which are about $2, and so much more.

If you want a unique sweet treat head down to Mad Ox bakery located at 215 West Broadway, Council Bluffs, Iowa and you won’t be disappointed by their great treats that are to die for.

story by kaitlyn jansen, photos by kyndall goodwin