Kate Keogh, the daughter of a former school dinner lady and kitchen assistant, has captivated social media audiences on TikTok by sharing simple, nostalgic recipes for classic school dinner treats. Her videos, featuring her mum's insider recipes, have gone viral, evoking cherished childhood memories for countless users.

One of the breakout hits is a five-ingredient school sponge cake, often served with pink custard. This delicious-looking sponge, topped with sprinkles, has been a staple in school dinner halls for decades. Kate showcased the recipe, stating, "This looks just like the one we had at school," and remarked on how it brings back so many memories. The video, posted under the username @kate_keo, has garnered over 425,000 views, with users flocking to the comments to express their love for the classic dessert.

The method for this beloved sponge cake is straightforward. For the sponge, combine 280g unsalted butter, 280g golden caster sugar, 280g self-raising flour, 5 eggs, and 2 tsp Madagascan vanilla extract. Cream the butter and caster sugar until pale and fluffy, then add the eggs and vanilla essence. Sieve in the self-raising flour and mix all ingredients thoroughly. Place the mixture onto a baking tray and bake for 30-35 minutes until golden. For the icing, mix 500g icing sugar with 5-6 tsp water until it reaches a liquid consistency, then ice the flat side of the turned-over cake before adding sprinkles. The iconic pink custard is made by adding a splash of pink food colouring to a tub of custard and heating it in the microwave.

In another viral sensation, Kate and her mum revealed the secret behind the cornflake tart, known by some as 'cracolet' or 'cracknel'. This crunchy, gooey treat was another eagerly anticipated item at school dinner time. The video, which starts with Kate proclaiming, "We're back with another one of mum's school recipes," has racked up an impressive 1.8 million views, unlocking core childhood memories for many. Comments poured in from users who had been dreaming of this dessert since their school days.

The recipe for the cornflake tart is equally simple. It requires 60g butter, 4 tbsps golden syrup, 1 tbsp cocoa powder, and cornflakes. Begin by melting the butter and golden syrup in a pan on the hob. Once melted, remove the pan from the heat, add the cocoa powder, and mix well. Pour a large portion of cornflakes into a mixing bowl, then pour the chocolate mixture over them and mix thoroughly. Finally, place the mixture into cake cases and allow them to set for one hour. These viral recipes highlight the enduring appeal of traditional school dinners, allowing a new generation to recreate and savor these nostalgic treats at home.