Their names may be in history books now, but these brilliant minds show us it’s okay to fail the first time you’re making dessert for a large group of friends.

William Faulkner, Blondie Brownies

Before producing some of the greatest American literature ever written, Faulkner was primarily known for baking a tray of blondie brownies that critics called “bland” and “okay, but pretty dry.”

Albert Einstein, Walnut Pie

Despite being considered the prototypical genius, Einstein once brought walnut pie to a faculty party at the University of Zurich, and at the end of the night, the pie was only half eaten. Even worse, Einstein discovered several slices thrown in the garbage.

Claude Monet, Strawberry Cheesecake

Monet’s artistic talent failed to carry over to baking, and after bringing a flavorless strawberry cheesecake to his first picnic potluck, he quickly became the guy who always volunteers to bring the paper plates.

Friedrich Nietzsche, Lemon Squares

People assumed it was something to do with the “will to power,” etc., but truth be told, the great philosopher simply goofed up the lemon squares.

Mark Zuckerberg, Empty Plate Of Cinnamon Crumbs

Before he created Facebook and became one of the youngest-ever self-made billionaires, Zuckerberg brought an empty plate of cinnamon crumbs to a Harvard computer club potluck, expecting no one to notice. They did.

George Washington Carver, Peanut Butter Cupcakes

Though the agricultural chemist reputedly discovered 300 uses for the peanut, his cupcakes, with their bland, waxy aftertaste, did not make the list.

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Tuna Casserole

Tchaikovsky is known as a genius of composition, but in his youth, he screwed up a neighborhood potluck by bringing a main course instead of a dessert, forcing Nancy to run out and buy Popsicles.