Who is choosing for afternoon tea?

Hosts serving a group

Plan how many classic custard creams to serve, and distinguish a 400g single-variety pack from a smaller pack or a mixed assortment.

Hosts catering for dietary needs

Check the exact pack against guests’ requirements. The listed Tesco and Asda classic biscuits contain wheat and milk, while their precautionary allergen statements differ.

Hosts offering a variation

Decide whether guests would prefer an extra-cream custard cream or a plate with several biscuit varieties, rather than choosing by total pack weight alone.

What should you check before choosing?

Work out the quantity of custard creams you want to serve, then check the biscuit variety, ingredients and nutrition information on the packs you are considering.

Priority What to check Your needs
Quantity Tesco and Asda list 400g classic packs. Asda suggests about 34 servings; Tesco lists Crawford’s 300g pack as containing about 26 biscuits. A serving and a biscuit are different measures, so use the intended portion size when planning. I’m serving a group and want enough custard creams for the number of guests, rather than relying on a “family pack” description.
Biscuit variety Check whether the pack contains only custard creams. M&S lists Extra Cream Custard Creams in a 165g pack; its 530g triple pack also contains malted milk biscuits and bourbon creams. Do I want a plate of classic custard creams, an extra-cream variation or a mixture of biscuits?
Ingredients Check the physical pack before serving. Tesco and Asda list wheat and milk in their classic custard creams; Tesco says they may contain sesame, while Asda also lists possible rye, barley and oats. A guest needs to avoid an ingredient, so I need the allergen and precautionary statements for the exact biscuits being served.
Nutrition Compare values on the same basis. Tesco lists 3.4g sugars and 1.5g saturates per biscuit for its 400g pack. The NHS explains that nutrition labels provide values per 100g and sometimes per portion. I want to compare different pack sizes or recipes without mistaking a per-biscuit figure for a per-100g value.

What can make pack comparisons misleading?

  • Counting a mixed pack as custard creams

    M&S says its 530g triple pack includes malted milk biscuits and bourbon creams as well as custard creams. Its full weight is not the quantity of custard creams.

    Choose a single-variety pack if the planned quantity must all be custard creams.

  • Assuming familiar biscuits have the same ingredients

    Recipes and precautionary allergen statements differ between the listed products. A familiar name does not establish whether a particular pack meets a guest’s requirements.

    Read the physical pack before serving and keep its ingredient information available to guests.

  • Treating an older taste test as a current recipe comparison

    The Good Housekeeping Institute assessed ten custard creams in September 2020. That tasting does not establish how today’s versions compare.

    Use the result as dated context, and check the current pack when deciding on quantity and ingredients.

Which brand ranges are relevant?

These pack examples illustrate different formats; a brand name alone does not tell you the current recipe, pack size or availability.

Tesco

Tesco lists its own-label classic custard creams in a 400g pack.

  • A single-variety 400g format gives hosts a pack weight to use when planning quantities.
  • The listing identifies wheat and milk and says the biscuits may contain sesame; check the pack for guests with relevant requirements.

Asda

Asda lists its own-label classic custard creams in a 400g pack and suggests about 34 servings.

  • The stated serving count can help with planning, provided it matches the portions you intend to offer.
  • The listing identifies wheat and milk, with possible rye, barley, oats and sesame.

Crawford's

Tesco lists Crawford's classic custard creams in a 300g pack containing approximately 26 biscuits.

  • The stated biscuit count offers a different quantity measure from a serving count.
  • Tesco’s listing described the pack as out of stock; check current availability before planning around it.

M&S

M&S lists Extra Cream Custard Creams in a 165g pack and a 530g triple pack containing three biscuit varieties.

  • The two formats offer a choice between the named custard-cream variation and a mixed biscuit plate.
  • The triple pack’s full weight is not custard-cream weight; check each variety’s ingredients when catering for guests.

Sainsbury's

Sainsbury's lists own-label custard creams in a 200g pack with approximately 16 servings.

  • The stated pack size and serving count help when comparing quantities.
  • The listing described this pack as out of stock. It contains wheat and milk, so check both availability and the physical pack before serving.

McVitie's

Joybuy lists McVitie's Tasties Custard Creams in a 300g pack.

  • Its listed 300g size provides a quantity to compare with the 400g classic packs.
  • Joybuy marks that listing as no longer available and identifies milk, wheat and possible sesame in its allergen information.

Joybuy custard cream options

This 125g custard cream pack is a smaller-format option for afternoon tea, rather than a 400g classic sharing pack. Plan the number of packs around how many biscuits you intend to serve.

Schar Gluten Free Custard Creams 125g pack

Schar Gluten Free Custard Creams 125g

A 125g gluten-free custard cream pack for a smaller serving or as part of a wider biscuit plate. Check the physical pack’s ingredients against guests’ requirements and work out how many packs the gathering needs.

View on Joybuy

Questions about serving custard creams

Does a 530g teatime assortment contain 530g of custard creams?

No. M&S describes its 530g triple pack as a mixture of Extra Cream Custard Creams, malted milk biscuits and bourbon creams. Choose a single-variety pack if you need a particular quantity of custard creams.

Can I rely on online ingredients when serving a guest with an allergy?

Check the physical pack before serving. Ingredient and precautionary statements can change, and the listed Tesco and Asda custard creams have different precautionary allergen information.

How should I store biscuits after opening the pack?

Follow the instructions on the pack you buy. Tesco and Asda advise storing their listed custard creams in a cool, dry place and using an airtight container once opened.

Do HFSS rules prohibit custard creams at a private afternoon tea?

No. The Department of Health and Social Care’s cited guidance concerns qualifying retail promotions and placement in England, not a household serving biscuits. England’s school food standards concern applicable food provided to pupils at state-funded schools; they are not rules for a private tea party.