Kate Keogh, the daughter of a former school dinner lady, has captivated social media users by sharing her mum's simple yet nostalgic recipes for classic school dinner treats on TikTok. These viral videos have resonated with many, bringing back cherished childhood memories for countless viewers.

One of the standout recipes is a five-ingredient school sponge cake, often served with pink custard. Kate's mum, a former school kitchen assistant, provided the 'insider recipes,' ensuring authenticity. The sponge cake looks identical to the one served in schools, described as a delicious-looking slab topped with sprinkles. It quickly became a highlight of school dinnertimes for generations. To make this retro cake, you'll need 280g unsalted butter, 280g golden caster sugar, 280g self-raising flour, 5 eggs, and 2 tsp Madagascan vanilla extract for the sponge. For the icing, combine 500g icing sugar with 5-6 tsp water, and don't forget the sprinkles. The iconic pink custard is made by adding a splash of pink food colouring to a tub of regular custard. The method involves creaming butter and sugar until pale, adding eggs and vanilla, then sieving in flour and mixing. This mixture is baked for 30-35 minutes until golden. Once cooled, the cake is turned over, iced on the flat side, and topped with sprinkles. The custard is heated in the microwave after adding food colouring, then served alongside the cake. This particular video, posted under @kate_keo, has garnered over 425,000 views, with users flocking to the comments to express their love for the classic school dessert.

Another sensation shared by Kate and her mum is the cornflake tart, which some may know as 'cracrolet' or 'cracknel.' This crunchy, gooey treat was another eagerly anticipated dessert during school lunch breaks. The recipe for this nostalgic item requires just a few ingredients: 60g butter, 4 tbsps golden syrup, 1 tbsp cocoa powder, and cornflakes. The preparation is straightforward: melt the butter and golden syrup in a pan, remove from heat, stir in the cocoa powder, then pour this chocolate mixture over a generous portion of cornflakes in a mixing bowl and mix well. The mixture is then placed into cake cases and left to set for about an hour. This cornflake tart video has proven even more popular, racking up a staggering 1.8 million views, with many TikTok users recalling it as a core childhood memory from their school days. Both recipes have successfully triggered a wave of nostalgia and excitement across social media platforms.