Grandpa baked his late wife’s cake for granddaughter’s birthday. She burst into tears the moment she saw it

Hattie Smith, who goes by @hattiebourn on Instagram, loved her grandma's lemon drizzle cake, but after her death, she thought she would never get to taste the homemade delight. When she mentioned missing the delicious cake, her grandpa knew he had the best surprise plan for her birthday. Well, he spent an entire day baking her favorite cake and then waited for his granddaughter to put her kids to sleep so he could celebrate her birthday. Smith shared the beautiful moment on Instagram on August 1, 2025, and it has received over a million views.

When Smith's 91-year-old grandfather heard her talk about the cake, he went home and spent all day baking it for her. Besides, he drove to shops, searching for 31 candles to put on it. After an exhausting day, he again went to Smith's house to celebrate her birthday with the special gift he had brought along. However, Etta, Smith's daughter, was unwell, so it took her longer than usual to put her to sleep. "I thought he’d gone home, but at 9:30 pm I came down, and he was still sitting, waiting for me to sing happy birthday," Smith recalled. "I can’t really explain how special he is to me and how lucky I feel to have him," she added. Smith saw her grandfather standing with something she had been craving, with a smile on his face. She couldn't believe that her grandpa had put in so much effort to make her happy. They hugged each other and together celebrated Smith's birthday, making it truly unforgettable. 

Most people grow up relishing some brilliant food prepared by their parents or grandparents, and once they're gone, those recipes become a way to remember them and the fond memories associated with them. In fact, Susan Whitborne, professor of psychological and brain sciences at the University of Massachusetts, says, "Food memories are more sensory than other memories in that they involve really all five senses, so when you’re that thoroughly engaged with the stimulus, it has a more powerful effect." This explains why Smith broke down when she saw her grandpa prepare something that evoked memories of the cherished time she had shared with her grandma. Meanwhile, reacting to the beautiful story, @sydneymaycrouch commented, "Oh, Hattie, this is so beautiful; grandads are the best humans in the world!" Similarly, @soph wrote, "I love how sentimental and emotional you are! I’m the same; any little sweet gesture and I’m tearing up. God bless your grandad; it's lovely that you have him and he has you. I miss my grandma a lot. She was my only grandparent!"

Echoing the sentiments, @876volunteer assumed, "I don’t know if this is why, but did he wait until after the kids were asleep so the moment could be all about you, his baby? God, he’s special. Happy Birthday!" A user who goes by @kellieanne79 said, "Oh my God, this made me cry. He is so much like my dad. He had the same special relationship with my kids. We are very lucky ladies!" Another user, @tazthestargazer, revealed, "I cry for strangers every day on this app. You have no idea how rich you are! I lost all 4 of my grandparents by the time I was 17. I'd give anything for a hug from them. Cherish this man!" @misnomer_12 said, "He's a bit of a legend, but so are you for how much you appreciate him!"

You can follow Hattie Smith (@hattiebourn) on Instagram for lifestyle content.