A Serbian student has found a novel way to combine his two loves -- art and baking. He makes cakes and cookies with images from some of the great masters, like Vincent Van Gogh, painted on them. For the holidays, Santa himself makes appearances on these treats.

A replica of a famous artwork by Italian painter Amedeo Modigliani.

But the artist behind this copy isn't using canvas, he's choosing cake instead.

These are just some of the sweet works of art being created by Sasa Aleksic.

The 23-year-old graphic design student is painting his cakes and cookies with works by some of the great masters, such as Van Gogh, Modigliani or Schiele.

And his creations are proving popular in Serbia.

"Those are the medals and cups from competitions. I started competing last year and that is the result," said Sasa Aleksic.

In a small kitchen in the small town of Svrljig, Aleksic spends weekends making and decorating his cakes with devotion and patience.

His efforts have seen him win more cups and medals in the past year.

"I got the idea exactly a year ago when there was a food and drinks fair in Belgrade and I wanted to make a new kind of cake -- something that has never been seen here -- so I did a Van Gogh, one model cake and muffins around it, also in Van Gogh-style,"  said Sasa Aleksic.

Currently, Aleksic is working on cookies decorated with Christmas and New Year motifs, such as Santa or snowmen.

Aleksic shares the kitchen with his aunt who was his teacher in the early days. But Vesna Milovanovic now says her nephew has outdone the teacher.

"Sasa is better. He did learn from his aunt, me, when he was small, but he has outdone his aunt 100 percent," Vesna Milovanovic said.

At the moment, Aleksic only bakes for food fairs and baking competitions. But he hopes to one day open his own pastry shop.