Brownies, butterfly cupcakes and, at a push, a C+ graded rainbow cake.
This is how far our dessert-making skills reach...on a good day.
However, 30-year-old chef Ben Churchill is showing dessert-lovers how two years of practice can result in the most beautiful film and television-inspired masterpieces.
Taking to Instagram to show off his delectable designs, the Hertforshire-based professional chef posts eye-catching images of his desserts, inspired by the likes of Harry Potter's Golden Snitch, apples sculpted from white chocolate, panaceas in the shape of pears, and heart-shaped shaped cookies.
Most recently, the self-proclaimed 'plating artist' created a Game of Thrones Iron Throne dessert – which bleeds strawberry coulis, if you must know – using carefully-carved chocolate sponge, melted chocolate and edible silver glitter.
Here's a video of Ben making the dessert, with some questionable fire effects:
He's also created a Dragonstone Throne (which, for the GOT uninitiated, stands upon the eponymous island located in Blackwater Bay), using chocolate cookie dough, white chocolate, cocoa and icing sugar, and berry coulis.
Explaining the inspiration behind his dessert illusions, Ben told Metro: 'It can happen any where, I'll just get an idea in my head, or be playing a video game and think "that would be cool to make into a dessert".
'The term food illusion just came about as I was creating dishes that fooled the eater and viewer. Made to look like something it isn't,' he added.
Seriously, just one look at these snaps and we're already reaching for that 'secret' Twirl bar we've hidden in the bottom drawer of our desk.
Right that's it, someone go fetch the Dairy Milk.
Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.
