Kate Keogh, the daughter of a former school dinner lady, has taken TikTok by storm by sharing simple yet profoundly nostalgic recipes for classic school dinner desserts. Her mother, who previously worked as a school kitchen assistant, has provided Kate with 'insider recipes,' allowing them to unlock cherished childhood memories for millions of social media users.

One of the recipes that captivated audiences is a five-ingredient school sponge cake, served with signature pink custard and topped with sprinkles. This delicious-looking sponge, which many instantly recognized from their own school days, has been a staple in dinner halls for decades. Kate’s video showcasing this treat, posted under the username @kate_keo, quickly went viral, racking up over 425,000 views. Viewers flooded the comments section, expressing their joy and recalling their own school day experiences, with many eager to try the 'lovely recipe.'

To recreate this beloved school sponge cake, the ingredients for the sponge include 280g unsalted butter, 280g golden caster sugar, 280g self-raising flour, 5 eggs, and 2 tsp Madagascan vanilla extract. For the icing, 500g of icing sugar combined with 5-6 tsp of water is needed, along with sprinkles. The iconic pink custard requires one tub of regular custard and a splash of pink food colouring.

Photo Credit: Maldon Books

The method involves first mixing the butter and caster sugar until pale and fluffy. Then, add the eggs and vanilla essence, followed by sieving in the self-raising flour and mixing all ingredients thoroughly. The mixture is then spread onto a baking tray and baked for 30-35 minutes until golden. For the icing, combine icing sugar and water to a liquid consistency, then turn the cake over to ice the flat side before generously adding sprinkles. Finally, a splash of food colouring is added to the custard, which is then heated in the microwave and served alongside the cake.

Beyond the sponge cake, Kate and her mum continued their viral success by revealing the secret behind another beloved nostalgic treat: the 'Cracolet,' more commonly known as cornflake tart. This crunchy, gooey dessert was another highlight of school dinnertime. The video demonstrating this easy-to-make creation, also posted on @kate_keo, achieved even greater viral success, garnering a staggering 1.8 million views. Social media users again flocked to the comments, with many exclaiming their love for the treat and how it immediately brought back their own childhood memories, including one user whose 'mom was a dinner lady and made this' and called it 'Cracknel.'

Photo Credit: Pinterest

The recipe for the cornflake tart is deceptively simple, requiring only 60g butter, 4 tablespoons golden syrup, 1 tablespoon cocoa powder, and cornflakes. The preparation involves placing the butter in a pan with the golden syrup and melting them down on the hob. Once melted, the pan is removed from the hob, cocoa powder is added, and the mixture is well combined. A large portion of cornflakes (Kate did not measure hers precisely) is then poured into a mixing bowl. The chocolate mixture is poured over the cornflakes and mixed well. Finally, the mixture is placed into individual cake cases and left for one hour to set, ready to be enjoyed as a taste of the past.

Through these simple yet powerful recipes, Kate Keogh and her mother are providing a delightful trip down memory lane for countless individuals, proving the enduring appeal of traditional school dinner classics on modern social media platforms.