Bakers using biscuit crumbs
If custard creams go into the cake as well as on top, work out the total quantity before choosing a pack.
Who is this for?
Bakers making biscuits a visible feature
If whole biscuits will finish the cake, their appearance and the number needed matter. M&S describes its Extra Cream version as containing more vanilla cream and real custard powder.
Bakers preparing a free-from cake
If a guest needs biscuits without gluten and milk, check that the exact biscuit meets both requirements, then check the other cake ingredients and their labels.
What matters when choosing?
Start with how many biscuits the recipe uses, then consider whether they will be crushed or left whole and whether any ingredients must be avoided.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Pack quantity | Add together the recipe’s crumb quantity and the biscuits needed for decoration. The products described by Asda and McVitie's come in 400g and 300g packs respectively; check the weight of the pack you choose. | I need enough biscuits for both the cake and its topping, without assuming a small finishing pack will cover both. |
| Visible finish | Decide how many whole biscuits you want to show. M&S describes its 165g Extra Cream Custard Creams as having more vanilla cream and real custard powder; that is a product description, not a taste comparison. | If the biscuits will be prominent on top, their appearance matters to me more than having a large pack for crumbs. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current label for every ingredient that must be avoided, including any precautionary allergen statement. Asda and McVitie's list wheat and milk in the standard products described here; Sainsbury's separately describes its 125g Free From version as milk and gluten free. | My cake needs a biscuit that meets the guest’s specific requirements, not one chosen just because it looks like an ordinary custard cream. |
| Storage before decorating | Check the pack’s storage instructions and keep opened biscuits sealed until use. Sainsbury's advises a cool, dry place and an airtight container after opening for its standard 200g product. | I want to keep whole biscuits in good condition until I add the finishing decoration. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming all custard creams are gluten- or milk-free
The standard McVitie's and Asda products described here list wheat and milk, while Sainsbury's Free From Custard Creams are a separate product.
When either ingredient must be avoided, check the exact biscuit’s current label and every other cake ingredient before baking.
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Choosing a topping pack before counting the crumbs
A recipe that uses biscuits inside the cake and on top may need more than a small pack intended for a few visible decorations.
Work out both quantities from the recipe before selecting a pack weight.
Brand options to consider
McVitie's
The McVitie's Custard Creams product described by Bestway Wholesale is a 300g standard pack to consider when the recipe calls for more than a few biscuits.
- A 300g pack gives you a stated weight to compare with the recipe quantity.
- The product lists wheat and milk and may contain sesame.
Asda
Asda lists its standard Custard Creams in a 400g pack, relevant when a bake uses biscuits for crumbs and decoration.
- The stated 400g pack size can be checked against the full recipe requirement.
- The product lists wheat and milk and may contain rye, barley, oats and sesame.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's lists a standard 200g custard cream and a separate 125g Free From version. Check which product you are buying rather than applying one product’s description to the other.
- Sainsbury's describes the Free From version as milk and gluten free.
- The Free From pack is 125g; check whether that covers the biscuit quantity in your recipe.
M&S
M&S describes its 165g Extra Cream Custard Creams as containing more vanilla cream and real custard powder, a distinction to consider when whole biscuits will be visible.
- The stated filling and custard-powder details distinguish this biscuit from a standard pack.
- The product contains wheat, milk and soya; check the current pack before use.
Joybuy custard creams for baking
This 125g gluten-free custard cream option is relevant if you are choosing biscuits for cake crumbs or decoration. Check the recipe quantity and any other dietary requirements against the pack before using it.
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Schar Gluten Free Custard Creams 125g
For cake crumbs or decoration where gluten-free custard creams are required, compare this 125g pack with the quantity in your recipe. If milk must also be avoided, check the current ingredient and allergen label rather than relying on the gluten-free product name.
Cake-baking questions
Can I use ordinary custard creams in a cake?
Yes, if their ingredients suit the people eating it. You can plan for crushed biscuits or a visible finish; a Twisted Food custard-cream cake recipe also uses custard and buttercream, so decide what role the biscuits will play in your own recipe.
Should I buy a large or small pack?
Choose by the quantity your recipe uses, including both crumbs and whole-biscuit decorations. Asda lists a 400g standard pack, while M&S lists a 165g Extra Cream pack; neither weight tells you how many biscuits your particular cake will require.
Are ordinary custard creams suitable for a gluten-free cake?
Not if they contain wheat: the standard McVitie's and Asda products described here list it. Choose a biscuit explicitly labelled gluten free, then check its current pack and the rest of the cake ingredients.
Does “may contain sesame” mean sesame is an ingredient?
No. The Food Standards Agency explains that precautionary allergen labelling communicates that an allergen could be unintentionally present. If sesame must be avoided, take that statement into account when choosing the biscuit.
How should I keep an opened pack before decorating?
Follow the pack instructions. For its standard 200g custard creams, Sainsbury's advises storage in a cool, dry place and an airtight container after opening for best quality.