'School dinner cake' becomes the lockdown cookery trend as nostalgic bakers whip up the sponge with white icing and sprinkles

  • 'School dinner cake', a vanilla sponge cake with white icing and sprinkles has taken over social media, with more than 20k posts on the hashtag in  two weeks
  • Become so popular it's appearing on menus at  bakeries across the country 
  • In December, Waitrose revealed shoppers are snapping up retro puddings as they seek comfort after a difficult year Many people will look back at school dinners and remember hard vegetables, flavourless meat and burned chips, but hasn't stopped some reminiscing over their lunchtime dessert, which has become an unlikely new trend on Instagram.

    'School dinner cake', a vanilla sponge cake with white icing and sprinkles has taken over UK social media, with more than 20,000 posts on the hashtag in the last few weeks.

    It's become so popular it's appearing on menus at restaurants and bakeries across the country offering home delivery - as thousands become nostalgic for the dessert which is being branded the lightest, fluffiest, cake ever'.

    'School dinner cake', a vanilla sponge cake with white icing and sprinkles has taken over UK social media, with more than 20,000 posts on the hashtag in the last few weeks. Pictured: One Instagram users cake'School dinner cake', a vanilla sponge cake with white icing and sprinkles has taken over UK social media, with more than 20,000 posts on the hashtag in the last few weeks. Pictured: One Instagram users cake 
    It's become so popular it's appearing on menus at restaurants and bakeries across the country - as thousands become nostalgic for the dessert which is being branded the lightest, fluffiest, cake ever'. Pictured: one Instagram users cake

    It's become so popular it's appearing on menus at restaurants and bakeries across the country - as thousands become nostalgic for the dessert which is being branded the lightest, fluffiest, cake ever'. Pictured: one Instagram users cake 

    The rise in popularity of the delicious dessert - also known as a sprinkle cake or iced tray bake - may be down to a surge of nostalgia in lockdown. In December, Waitrose revealed  shoppers are snapping up retro puddThe rise in popularity of the delicious dessert - also known as a sprinkle cake or iced tray bake - may be down to a surge of nostalgia in lockdown. Pictured: One Instagram users cake

    The rise in popularity of the delicious dessert - also known as a sprinkle cake or iced tray bake - may be down to a surge of nostalgia in lockdown. Pictured: One Instagram users cake

    Reliving my childhood! One user shared a picture with sprinkles inside the cake saying they could taste the nostalgia

    Reliving my childhood! One user shared a picture with sprinkles inside the cake saying they could taste the nostalgia 

    Sales of trifles were up 35 per cent in 2020  and other retro desserts such as sticky toffee pudding and cherry pie have seen a 60 per cent increase, figures from the British supermarket chain reveal. 

    The humble apple and blackberry crumble is another dessert which is receiving more love than normal as it has sold 13 per cent better than last year. 

    Online searches for 'sponge pudding' and 'bread and butter pudding' also saw an increase by 888 per cent and 349 per cent respectively. 

    Many Instagram users are selling the cake online - with hundreds being desperate to snap up the nostalgic dessert

    Many Instagram users are selling the cake online - with hundreds being desperate to snap up the nostalgic dessert

    The classic traybake cake has been a staple of school dinners for decades, was its cheap to make and easy to serve

    The classic traybake cake has been a staple of school dinners for decades, was its cheap to make and easy to serve

    'Want to relive your childhood? This school cake will take you there,' one Instagram user wrote. 

    'Who remembers school dinners with sponge and custard?! When I was at Primary School (age 4-11) this was my absolute favourite dessert, so I thought I’d recreate it,' said another. 

    'This is the lightest, fluffiest sponge ever,' commented a third.  

    A classic treat! Many are showing the cake with different kinds of sprinkles - including circle sprinkles

    A classic treat! Many are showing the cake with different kinds of sprinkles - including circle sprinkles 

    Meanwhile, Min Y Don holiday park in Twywn, North Wales revealed their added the cake to the menu, while the Nom Bakery in Nottingham said they were doing the same.

    The experts behind the Young British Food & Drink Awards, which celebrates fresh voices in food writing, also found that nostalgic deserts are on the rise in their 2021 report. 

    When times get tough, escapism is the place Brits find happiness and M&S has seen the mini battered sausages chip shop style boxes soar in sales due to our love affair with comfort food, the YBF report reveals. 

    Cake and custard! One Instagram chef poured their custard over their sponge mix for an extra dose of nostalgia

    Cake and custard! One Instagram chef poured their custard over their sponge mix for an extra dose of nostalgia 

    Meanwhile, the once old-fashioned tipple Sherry is making a comeback, while Brits are turning to sweet treats to give themselves a boost from the misery of Covid tiers and lockdowns

    Sales of luxury quality chocolate and confectionery have soared as people comfort eat in what is known as the 'Covid Confectionery Effect' by producers of premium foods and hampers - who have reported a leap in demand for classic delicacies in recent months.

    Sales of 'old fashioned' sweets from people's childhoods, like cola cubes, rhubarb and custards, mint imperials, sherbet pips and other nostalgic products such as fudge, toffee and chocolate are soaring as the UK endures continued restrictions.

    Min Y Don holiday park in Twywn, North Wales revealed their added the cake to the menu (pictured)

    Min Y Don holiday park in Twywn, North Wales revealed their added the cake to the menu (pictured)

    The dessert cup co, in Batley, West Yorkshire, also offers the cake, which they describe as 'light and fluffy'

    The dessert cup co, in Batley, West Yorkshire, also offers the cake, which they describe as 'light and fluffy'

    Cartwright & Butler, which is based in Yorkshire, reported a rise of 170 per cent in sales of butter fudge, while salted caramel fudge shot up a staggering 4500 per cent and peanut brittle purchases were up 84 per cent compared to the same time last year.

    Psychotherapist Charlotte Fox Webber previously told MailOnline: 'In a time period of turbulence and distressing change, nostalgia transports us back to what we know— and there's such sweet familiarity in things from the past. 

    'There's something so evocative and comforting about past associations and memories. It makes complete emotional sense that in an era of chaos and sorrow and stress, we feel safe when we are reminded of childhood pleasures'

    Old school sprinkle cake! Psychiatrist Charlotte Fox Webber previously told MailOnline: 'In a time period of turbulence and distressing change, nostalgia transports us back to what we know¿ and there's such sweet familiarity in things from the past.

    Old school sprinkle cake! Psychiatrist Charlotte Fox Webber previously told MailOnline: 'In a time period of turbulence and distressing change, nostalgia transports us back to what we know— and there's such sweet familiarity in things from the past.

    Back to school! Another user shared a version of the cake - with their icing falling off the sides online

    Back to school! Another user shared a version of the cake - with their icing falling off the sides online 

    Now with stars! One user shared a snap of the cake with cream and stars on the icing

    Now with stars! One user shared a snap of the cake with cream and stars on the icing 

    HOW TO MAKE 'SCHOOL DINNER CAKE' 

     INGREDIENTS 

    • 225g butter
    • 225g caster sugar 
    •  275g self raising flour
    • 1tsp baking powder 

    • 1tsp vanilla extract
    • 4 eggs
    • 4tbsp milk⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 
    • 150g icing sugar
    • Water
    •  Sprinkles (hundreds and thousands)

      METHOD

    1. Preheat oven to 180C/Gas mark 4

    2. Mix together butter and sugar until light and fluffy

    3. Add eggs one-by-one, mixing in as you go

    4. Sift in the flour and fold to create a creamy batter 

     5. Transfer batter to preheated oven and bake for 50 minutes, until risen and golden

    6.  Leave to cool on a wire rack

    7. Mix icing sugar with boiling water until you have a thick consistrncy to pour onto cake

    8. Once cake is cooled, pour on icing using a spoon to guide to the edges and finish with sprinkles  

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