Who is each format for?

Hosts serving a larger book club

An assortment of portion packs can make self-service easier than passing around an open packet. Check that it includes custard creams and that the number of custard-cream portions fits your group.

Small groups wanting custard creams only

A standard packet suits a table where one biscuit variety is the point and you can put the biscuits on plates or in bowls. It does not provide separate sealed portions.

Hosts checking dietary information

Read the label of the exact product you will serve. Hill Biscuits lists wheat and whey powder (milk) in its custard creams; the McVitie’s listing on Joybuy also lists wheat and milk and carries a possible-sesame statement.

What should you check before choosing?

Start with how guests will take the biscuits, then check the assortment, label and serving details of the pack you intend to buy.

Priority What to check Your needs
Serving format Confirm whether portions are individually sealed or the biscuits come in a sharing packet. For an assortment, count the confirmed custard-cream portions rather than relying on total case weight. I want guests to help themselves without repeatedly handling one open packet. If we are a small group sharing from plates, separate packs matter less.
Biscuit selection Check which varieties are included and how many portions contain custard creams. Hill Biscuits lists custard creams in its Mini Pack Mix and Mini Pack Selection, both assortments. If everyone is expecting custard creams, I need enough of that variety—not just enough assorted packets to go round.
Ingredients and allergens Read the current ingredients and any precautionary allergen statement on the exact pack. Hill Biscuits lists wheat and whey powder (milk) in its custard creams; Joybuy’s McVitie’s listing also states that the product may contain sesame. Guests need to be able to check the biscuit they are offered, particularly when someone has mentioned an allergy or intolerance.
Nutrition per serving Compare declarations using the same basis, such as per biscuit or per portion. Sainsbury’s states 59 kcal, 3.3g sugars and 1.2g saturates per biscuit for its 200g custard creams; those values do not describe other recipes. I want to put serving information in context, rather than assume a portion pack contains smaller biscuits or has different nutrition.
After opening Check the selected pack’s storage instructions and plan where to put any remaining biscuits. Hill Biscuits advises a cool, dry place and an airtight container once opened; Sainsbury’s also advises an airtight container after opening. If biscuits remain after the meeting, I want a practical way to store the opened packet.

Common buying mistakes

  • Assuming a mini assortment contains only custard creams

    Hill Biscuits’ Mini Pack ranges include custard creams alongside other biscuits, so the total number of assorted portions is not necessarily the number of custard-cream portions.

    Confirm the case breakdown before ordering. If the group wants only custard creams, consider standard custard-cream packets and plan how to serve them.

  • Relying on a familiar brand instead of the exact allergen label

    Hill Biscuits lists wheat and milk ingredients in its custard creams, while Joybuy’s McVitie’s listing additionally carries a possible-sesame statement. The Food Standards Agency explains that precautionary wording such as “may contain” communicates possible unintended allergen presence.

    Ask guests about allergies before the meeting and keep the delivered packaging available so they can check its ingredients and precautionary statements.

  • Assuming portion packs change the biscuit’s nutrition

    A separate serving helps define a portion, but the packaging alone does not establish its calories, sugars or saturates. Sainsbury’s, for example, declares 59 kcal, 3.3g sugars and 1.2g saturates per biscuit for its standard custard creams.

    Use the nutrition declaration on the exact assortment or packet being served, and compare like-for-like serving units.

Brand and product-line references

Hill Biscuits

Hill Biscuits lists custard creams among the biscuit types in its Mini Pack Mix and Mini Pack Selection.

  • Its published custard-cream ingredients include wheat and whey powder (milk), and its storage instructions cover opened packs.
  • Check the case breakdown before relying on either assortment for a particular number of custard-cream portions.

Sainsbury’s

Sainsbury’s lists a 200g standard packet of custard creams for serving one biscuit variety.

  • Its product information gives nutrition per biscuit and instructions for storage after opening.
  • This is a sharing packet, not a separately portioned mini assortment.

M&S

Ocado lists M&S Extra Cream Custard Creams as a 165g standard packet with a vanilla-flavoured filling made with custard powder.

  • The listing states that this product is suitable for vegetarians.
  • It is not listed as a mini or individually portioned format.

McVitie’s

Joybuy lists McVitie’s Tasties Custard Creams as a 300g standard packet.

  • The listing provides ingredients and states vegetarian suitability.
  • It is not a mini pack; its allergen information lists wheat and milk and says it may contain sesame.

Crawford’s

An advertising-supported comparison by TopChoice.co.uk describes a Crawford’s assorted mini biscuit pack with individually wrapped portions.

  • The described format is relevant if guests will take separate portions from an assortment.
  • Check the exact pack for its custard-cream contents, ingredients and allergens before choosing it for this book club.

Joybuy custard cream option

This standard packet is an option for a smaller book club serving custard creams from a shared plate; it is not a mini-pack assortment.

Schar Gluten Free Custard Creams 125g packet

Schar Gluten Free Custard Creams 125g

For a small group sharing one biscuit variety, this is a standard 125g packet rather than separately sealed portions. Check the current pack label for its full ingredients and allergen information before serving.

View on Joybuy

Questions about serving custard creams

Does “mini” mean each custard cream is smaller?

Not necessarily. Hill Biscuits uses “Mini Pack” for its assorted products, so check the exact pack for biscuit weight or dimensions if the size of each biscuit matters to you.

How many mini custard-cream portions should I order?

Base the order on the confirmed number of portions containing custard creams, not the total weight or packet count of an assortment. Ask the supplier for the case breakdown before deciding how many cases your group needs.

Can guests avoiding milk or gluten eat custard creams?

Do not assume any custard cream will meet those requirements. Hill Biscuits’ custard-cream ingredients include wheat and whey powder (milk), while the McVitie’s listing on Joybuy lists wheat and milk and says it may contain sesame. Check the exact product label with the guest before serving.

Are there vegetarian custard creams in standard packets?

Yes. Sainsbury’s describes its 200g custard creams as suitable for vegetarians, and the Ocado listing says the same for M&S Extra Cream Custard Creams. Check the selected pack rather than extending those statements to every custard cream or assorted mini pack.

How should I store biscuits left after the meeting?

Follow the instructions on the pack you opened. Hill Biscuits advises storing opened packs in an airtight container in a cool, dry place; Sainsbury’s also advises an airtight container after opening for its custard creams.