Organisers planning portions
If you intend to hand over sealed servings, count packets rather than biscuits or pack weight. Hill Biscuits specifies 48 packets of three custard creams; a sharing pack needs a separate serving plan.
Who is choosing?
Organisers handling ingredient enquiries
Keep the purchased packs available so you can check ingredients for each product offered. The Tesco and ASDA standard custard creams listed here contain milk and wheat; a different recipe needs its own label check.
Shoppers seeking a portion-packed alternative
If a different formulation is relevant, compare the exact product’s ingredients and packet format. Schär describes its custard creams as gluten-free, wheat-free and lactose-free, while ASDA lists five individual packets of two biscuits.
What should you check?
Decide how biscuits will be handed over, then check usable portion counts and the ingredients of every variety you plan to offer.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Serving format | Check biscuits per packet and whether portions are individually wrapped. Hill Biscuits lists three biscuits per packet; ASDA lists two per individual Schär packet. Neither figure describes biscuit dimensions. | I want portions ready to hand over, rather than volunteers dividing up a sharing pack. If I need physically smaller biscuits, I will check that separately. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the purchased pack for every recipe. Tesco’s standard custard creams list wheat and milk; Schär describes its distinct product as gluten-free, wheat-free and lactose-free. A lactose-free description alone does not answer a milk-allergy question. | People may ask what is in each biscuit. I need the relevant packaging at the stall, including for any alternative variety. |
| Portion count and variety | Hill Biscuits specifies 48 packets of three custard creams. Philip Dennis lists 100 Crawford’s assorted packets across six varieties, without a custard-cream packet count. | If I need a particular number of custard-cream portions, a mixed case only works once I know its variety breakdown. |
| Before the sale | Check the current ingredients on the delivered packs. Follow their storage instructions: Hill Biscuits specifies a cool, dry place and an airtight container once opened. | I want the packs and their ingredient information to remain available until the biscuits are handed over. |
Common buying mistakes
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Treating “mini pack” as “bite-size biscuit”
Hill Biscuits specifies three biscuits per packet, and Philip Dennis describes small assorted Crawford’s packets. Those descriptions establish packet formats, not smaller biscuit dimensions.
Check the biscuits-per-packet figure and look for an explicit biscuit-size description if physical size matters to your sale.
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Counting every assorted packet as custard creams
Custard creams are one of six varieties in the Crawford’s case listed by Philip Dennis, which does not give a count for each variety.
If you need a set number of custard-cream servings, confirm the assortment breakdown or choose a case with a stated single-variety packet count.
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Assuming one custard-cream recipe represents them all
Standard Tesco custard creams list milk and wheat, whereas Schär describes a different formulation. Pack size and product name cannot settle an individual ingredient enquiry.
Read the full ingredients and allergen information on each purchased product against the person’s requirements.
Relevant brand references
These examples show how formats and recipes differ; a brand name alone does not establish the packet contents or ingredients of another product in its range.
Hill Biscuits
Its custard-cream catering case has a specified count: 48 sealed packets with three biscuits each, according to Hill Biscuits.
- A single-variety packet count helps plan sealed portions.
- The listed recipe contains milk and may also contain soya; “3pk” does not establish bite-size biscuits.
Crawford’s
Philip Dennis lists a catering assortment of 100 individually wrapped packets across six biscuit varieties, including custard creams.
- The assortment provides sealed packets when several varieties are welcome.
- Its listed contents do not give a custard-cream packet count.
Schär
Schär describes portion-packed custard creams as gluten-free, wheat-free and lactose-free; ASDA lists five individual packets of two biscuits.
- The stated packet format and recipe offer a distinct option to check for particular requirements.
- Check the full label against an individual’s requirements; lactose-free does not by itself establish suitability for a milk allergy.
Tesco
Tesco lists a 400 g standard custard-cream pack for serving biscuits loose.
- The product listing gives ingredients and per-biscuit information for planning a served portion.
- It is not listed as individually portioned; its ingredients include wheat and milk.
ASDA
ASDA lists both standard 400 g custard creams and a separate Free From product.
- The separate listings let shoppers check which recipe they are considering.
- The standard product lists wheat and milk. ASDA’s gluten-free and milk-free descriptions apply to its distinct Free From product, not the standard pack.
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s lists standard custard creams in a 200 g pack.
- A stated pack weight helps distinguish it from the larger sharing packs listed here.
- The listing does not describe mini or individual portions; its ingredients include wheat and milk.
M&S
M&S lists Extra Cream Custard Creams as a distinct 165 g product.
- The separate recipe listing helps identify the exact pack when checking ingredients.
- The listed ingredients include wheat, milk and soya; the pack is not described as a mini format.
McVitie’s
ASDA lists McVitie’s Tasties Custard Cream Biscuits in a 300 g pack.
- The listing identifies a standard sharing-pack option.
- The stated pack size does not establish individual portions or miniature biscuits.
Joybuy product options
This portion-packed Schär option is relevant when checking a different custard-cream formulation for the bake sale. Compare its purchased label with the requirements of the people you are serving.
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Schär Gluten Free Custard Creams 125g
A portion-packed custard-cream option to consider when a different formulation is relevant to the sale. Schär describes this product as gluten-free, wheat-free and lactose-free; ASDA lists the 125 g product as five individual packets of two biscuits. Check the purchased pack’s full ingredients and allergen information before offering it to someone with a specific requirement.
Questions about the bake sale
Does a school bake sale automatically need food-business registration?
Not automatically. Food Standards Agency guidance for England, Wales and Northern Ireland says the local authority may decide that very limited, infrequent activity does not need registration. Food Standards Scotland says occasional food handling is unlikely to require registration. Check the actual sale arrangements with the organiser or relevant local authority; food provided at the event must still be safe.
Should we keep the original biscuit packs at the stall?
Yes. Keep the purchased packaging available to check ingredients when people ask, especially if biscuits are served loose or several varieties are offered. ASDA notes that product ingredients and allergen advice can change, so use the information for the packs at the sale.
Do England’s school food standards prohibit these biscuits at a fundraiser?
The Department for Education’s England guidance states that school food standards do not apply to food provided for fundraising events. As at October 2026, its updated standards planned for September 2027 remain subject to Parliamentary approval. Check the individual school’s event policy and continue to follow food-safety requirements; this England-specific guidance is not a UK-wide ruling.
How many sealed custard-cream portions are in a case?
It depends on the specified product. Hill Biscuits states that its single-variety case contains 48 packets of three biscuits. Philip Dennis lists 100 packets in the Crawford’s assortment but does not break out the custard-cream quantity, so confirm that mix if you need a set number of custard-cream portions.
Does “lactose-free” settle a milk-allergy question?
No. A lactose-free description alone does not establish whether a product meets someone’s milk-allergy requirements. Check the complete ingredients and allergen information on the purchased pack against that person’s requirements; Schär’s stated attributes apply to its particular custard creams, while the standard Hill Biscuits and Tesco products listed here contain milk ingredients.