This Realistic April Fool's Day Fruit Basket Is Actually Better Than The Real Thing

BY LINDSEY ROBERTSON

April Fool's Day is easily the most nauseating holiday ever. Either a prank is so small that it's hardly noticed (i.e., putting something in your roommate's shoe), or it's so intense and over-the-top that you end up seriously jeopardizing your personal relationships (i.e., telling your boyfriend you're pregnant). It's hard to find that perfect, happy medium in prank-planning where everyone gets a laugh.

Perhaps that's why Internet baking darling Christine McConnell's April Fool's idea has me completely enamored. 

McConnell created an astoundingly realistic "fruit basket" which isn't actually fruit at all — each piece of produce is an individually shaped and decorated cake or tart. So, not only is it a surprise for any hungry guests, but it's the best kind of surprise ever (unless you're, you know, gluten-intolerant). 

The attention to detail is pretty astounding. 

"Aesthetically, you can't top the appearance of fruit. Mother Nature nailed that right out of the gate." McConnell writes in her new book, Deceptive Desserts. "But what if you could improve what's inside? Add some butter, copious amounts of sugar, and a lot of patience and you get something deceptively delicious and completely unique." 

Using real fruit and tin foil, McConnell was able to create individual baking molds for each one of her tiny cakes. 

Each baked good is coated in a butter cream frosting or a food-colored glaze, then coated in an additional fruit juice glaze to give them a believable sheen. 

For the Banana Bread Bars, "a little allspice and cinnamon mixed with some vodka was used to create the bruising effect," McConnell writes on Imgur.  

The Chocolate Yogurt Grapes are created by dipping yogurt-covered raisins in colored melting chocolate and assembling them in a bunch.

Also included in the "fruit basket" are Lime Meringues, Caramel Apple Pies, Blueberry Lemon Hand Pies, Pear Tarts, Chocolated-Covered Strawberries, and Orange Creme Cakes. 

"To make a beautiful display of your creations, line a woven basket with rinsed, dry branches and leaves from a citrus tree. Gently lay your pies, tarts, breads and cakes decoratively within."

Sure, if you create this stunning culinary display, your April Fool's target won't be disgusted and shocked — but they'll definitely be pleasantly surprised. And isn't thatreally the better of the two worlds?