Kate Keogh, the daughter of a former school dinner lady, has taken TikTok by storm by sharing simple recipes for beloved, nostalgic school dinner treats. Her videos have resonated deeply with social media users, bringing back cherished childhood memories for many who grew up with these classic desserts.

One of the recipes that first captivated audiences was her mum's five-ingredient school sponge cake, served with traditional pink custard. Kate's mother, who worked as a school kitchen assistant, provided the 'insider recipes,' allowing Kate to recreate the authentic taste. The video showcasing this delicious-looking, sprinkle-topped sponge quickly went viral, racking up over 425,000 views on TikTok. Viewers enthusiastically shared their love for the classic, with many remarking on how it mirrored the cake they enjoyed in their own school days.

For those eager to recreate this slice of nostalgia, the recipe for the school sponge cake is straightforward. The sponge requires 280g unsalted butter, 280g golden caster sugar, 280g self-raising flour, 5 eggs, and 2 tsp Madagascan vanilla extract. To prepare, 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 together. Place the mixture onto a baking tray and bake for 30-35 minutes until golden. The icing calls for 500g icing sugar combined with 5-6 tsp water to achieve a liquid consistency. Once the cake is cool, turn it over and ice the flat side before adding sprinkles. The signature pink custard is made by adding a splash of pink food colouring to one tub of custard, heating it in the microwave, and serving.

Building on this success, Kate and her mum then revealed the secret behind another iconic school dessert: the cornflake tart, known by various names such as 'crackolet' or 'cracknel' in different schools. This crunchy, gooey treat was also a highlight of school dinnertime and Kate's video about it similarly went viral, achieving an impressive 1.8 million views. Comments sections overflowed with users expressing how the video unlocked core childhood memories, with many proclaiming their long-standing love for the dessert.

The recipe for the cornflake tart is equally simple. It requires 60g butter, 4 tbsps golden syrup, 1 tbsps cocoa powder, and cornflakes. Begin by placing the butter and golden syrup in a pan and melting them down on the hob. Remove the pan from the hob, add the cocoa powder, and mix well. Pour a large portion of cornflakes into a mixing bowl (Kate demonstrated this without precise measurement). Pour the chocolate mixture onto the cornflakes and mix thoroughly. Finally, place the mixture into cake cases and leave for one hour to set. Through these viral culinary insights, Kate Keogh continues to share the comforting taste of school day memories with a wide audience, proving that some classic treats never go out of style.