Who Is Shirley Smith the TikTok Grandmother with Millions of Views on Traditional Recipes?

In an age where social media is saturated with fast edits, dance routines, and sponsored content, Cheryl Smyth—who goes by “Shirley Smith” online—has emerged as a wholesome and heartwarming figure who connects deeply with audiences across the world. At 58, this grandmother from Carrickfergus in Northern Ireland has turned her home kitchen into a global classroom of comfort food and traditional recipes.

Since launching her TikTok account “Cheryl Bakes Cakes” in January 2024, her content has resonated with millions, drawing viewers from as far as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and France, as well as her home region of Northern Ireland. Shirley Smith didn’t begin her online journey with a strategy to go viral or to chase monetization.

In fact, her first video was a humorous take on surviving Storm Isla in January 2024. It was with encouragement from her children that she ventured into showcasing her cooking skills—skills that were lovingly passed down by her mother and grandmother. Today, she’s not just sharing recipes; she’s sharing a way of life, one that is deeply rooted in family, tradition, and authenticity.

From Family Recipes to Global Screens

The charm of Shirley Smith’s content lies in its simplicity and relatability. Whether she’s making stew, roast dinners, braised steak, or sausage rolls, she does it with a genuine warmth that makes viewers feel like they’re sitting in the kitchen with her.

Her most popular videos include hearty, home-cooked meals and traditional bakes like sticky toffee pudding, scones, wheaten and treacle farls, and chocolate cake inspired by Roald Dahl’s Matilda. Each video is not just a tutorial but a gentle reminder of the kind of cooking many people grew up with—or wish they had.

Her reach continues to grow rapidly. Starting from zero, she gained 100,000 followers by December 2024, and now, just months later, she is approaching 170,000. This popularity is not just based on good food but on the emotional connection she fosters.

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Many followers share deeply personal stories with her—telling her how she’s filled the gap left by a mother or grandmother who is no longer around. One poignant message came from a girl who lost her mum and thanked Cheryl for teaching her things her mum never got the chance to. For Shirley, these messages are the real markers of success.

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She often says she’s “just a person next door,” and it’s this grounded identity that makes her stand out. Her kitchen isn’t a polished studio—it’s a real place, complete with dogs running through, family members popping in, and an oven that sometimes smokes. Viewers see not just food being prepared, but life being lived. Her goal is simple: teach people how to cook traditional meals on a budget, make cooking accessible, and above all, keep traditions alive.

More Than Just Recipes—A Living Cookbook

Unlike many social media personalities who transition into brand ambassadors, Shirley Smith has deliberately stayed away from commercialization. She has declined numerous opportunities for sponsorships and collaborations. “If you see me promoting a nice Chinese takeaway, I bought it,” she says candidly.

For her, TikTok isn’t a business; it’s a passion project. Her joy lies in teaching others how to prepare good food without spending too much—a perspective shaped by her upbringing and her role as a mother and foster carer. Over the past 31 years, Shirley Smith has not only raised her own children but also opened her home to foster children, further enriching her experience and empathy.

Her cooking, much like her parenting, is about nurturing. She’s especially proud of her new series “Feed Your Family for a Fiver,” where she shows viewers how to prepare meals for an entire family at just £5. In partnership with a local butcher in Ballymena, she even launched a £25 meat pack to support families facing financial difficulties.

Shirley Smith refers to her TikTok channel as her “living cookbook.” Unlike a traditional recipe book, her platform allows for interaction—viewers can ask questions, share their own stories, and even show off the meals they’ve made using her recipes. She thrives on this community connection, and it’s clear that her influence goes far beyond the kitchen. She’s a teacher, a storyteller, and to many, a surrogate mother figure.

Despite her growing fame, Shirley Smith remains humble and grounded. She finds it strange to be recognized in public, where people now ask for selfies or share how her recipes have brought families together. She laughs about the shift in food trends too, joking that “nobody wants smashed avocado anymore… they want soda bread and a slice of ham.” Her words resonate with those who feel a disconnect from modern food culture and long for simpler, more nourishing meals.

Keeping Northern Irish Heritage Alive

Shirley Smith’s cooking is deeply tied to the cultural and culinary traditions of Northern Ireland. Dishes like soda bread, farls, and jam-and-coconut sponge are staples in her videos, and each comes with a story or a memory. These recipes are more than just food—they’re part of a heritage that she is determined to preserve for the next generation.

Her background is as rich as the meals she prepares. Born in Larne, she also spent part of her childhood in Zambia and Canada before her family returned to Northern Ireland. This global exposure may have shaped her inclusive attitude, but it’s her roots in Co Antrim that define her culinary style. She speaks often of her mother and grandmother’s teachings and how she now carries that legacy forward.

Shirley Smith sees herself as a bridge between generations. She’s not interested in fancy culinary trends or expensive gadgets. Instead, she champions the kind of cooking that uses a single bowl, no yeast, no rising time, and a good old knife to stir. Her recipes are practical, affordable, and grounded in the everyday lives of working families. It’s no surprise that her audience spans all ages and backgrounds—because her message is universal: food made with love brings people together.

In an increasingly digital world, where even food is often filtered and photoshopped, Shirley Smith represents something real. Her meals are not perfectly plated for the camera—they’re made to be eaten, shared, and enjoyed. And that’s precisely why she’s become a sensation.

She’s also keenly aware of the responsibility that comes with her platform. Though she has fun with trends and interacts playfully with her followers, she remains focused on what matters: giving people the skills and confidence to cook wholesome meals, reduce food waste, and embrace their culinary heritage. And she does it all without a business agenda or a flashy brand—just flour on her apron and kindness in her heart.

So who is Shirley Smith? She’s your kitchen confidante, your digital granny, the friendly neighbor you wish you had, and a humble woman who, through a camera and a mixing bowl, is reviving the joy of traditional cooking one video at a time. In doing so, she reminds us all that food isn’t just about taste—it’s about memory, connection, and love passed down through generations.