Who is each pack format for?

Hosts feeding a mixed group

If custard creams will be a main biscuit choice, start with the quantity you expect to serve. Tesco lists a 400g conventional pack; check its current label against guests’ dietary needs before putting it on the table.

Hosts offering several desserts

When custard creams are one choice among other buffet foods, the M&S Extra Cream 165g pack, listed as 12 servings, may be enough as a smaller addition. It is not a substitute for a larger biscuit supply if many guests will want them.

Hosts catering for dietary-specific guests

Schär’s 125g custard cream pack is labelled gluten-free, lactose-free and vegan, with five individual two-biscuit packs. Keep its packaging available so guests can check the current ingredients and allergen information themselves.

What should you check before buying?

Decide how many biscuits the buffet needs, then check whether each pack suits the guests and how you will serve it.

Priority What to check Your needs
Buffet quantity Compare pack weight with a stated biscuit count or serving count where available. Tesco lists 400g; Crawford’s 300g pack gives a typical count of 26 biscuits, according to Tesco Groceries. Custard creams will be a main biscuit choice, so I need to plan for the expected guests rather than assume every packet is sharing-sized.
Dietary suitability Read the current ingredients and allergen label. Crawford’s contains wheat and milk and may contain sesame; M&S Extra Cream contains wheat, milk and soya. Schär’s 125g product is labelled gluten-free, lactose-free and vegan. Some guests need a clearly identifiable alternative, so I want to keep their biscuits separate and retain the packaging.
Serving over time Check the pack’s storage instructions before opening it. Crawford’s advises an airtight container after opening; M&S advises a cool, dry place away from sunlight. Guests may return to the buffet over several hours. I would rather put out biscuits as needed than open every packet at once.

What can go wrong at the buffet?

  • Assuming every packet is sharing-sized

    The formats serve different purposes: Tesco lists 400g, Crawford’s lists 300g with a typical 26 biscuits, M&S lists 165g and 12 servings, and Schär lists 125g and 10 servings.

    Choose the main biscuit quantity from the guest count and declared pack information. Add smaller packets for variety or dietary-specific guests rather than treating them as equivalent quantities.

  • Mixing conventional and dietary-specific biscuits

    Conventional Crawford’s custard creams contain wheat and milk and may contain sesame; M&S Extra Cream contains wheat, milk and soya. An unlabelled shared dish makes those distinctions harder for guests to check.

    Keep Schär’s individual packs in their packaging or place them in a clearly marked separate dish, with the outer pack available for ingredient and allergen checks.

  • Counting on an old listing for Boxing Day

    Iceland marked Crawford’s 300g pack unavailable, and a Joybuy listing described McVitie’s Tasties 300g pack as no longer available. Neither listing establishes what will be in stock when you shop.

    Check availability close to purchase. If you change products, compare the replacement’s pack quantity and current allergen label rather than relying on the brand name alone.

Which product lines are relevant?

These examples illustrate different pack formats; a brand name alone does not establish the quantity or dietary suitability of another product in its range.

Tesco

Tesco Groceries lists a conventional custard cream pack at 400g, relevant when one packet needs to provide a larger biscuit quantity.

  • The product title states a 400g pack weight.
  • Check the current pack for its biscuit count, ingredients and allergen information before serving.

Crawford’s

The conventional 300g custard cream pack has a stated typical count of 26 biscuits, according to Tesco Groceries.

  • The typical biscuit count gives hosts another way to plan portions alongside pack weight.
  • It contains wheat and milk and may contain sesame. Iceland marked its listing unavailable, so check stock when shopping.

M&S

M&S Extra Cream Custard Creams come in a 165g pack listed as 12 servings. Marks & Spencer describes vanilla cream and real custard powder in this product.

  • The smaller format can be one biscuit choice alongside other buffet foods.
  • This product contains wheat, milk and soya; check the current label before serving.

Schär

The 125g custard cream product is listed as gluten-free, lactose-free and vegan, with five individual two-biscuit packs.

  • Individual packs make the dietary-specific option easier to keep identifiable on a buffet.
  • Ten stated servings make this a smaller addition rather than the main biscuit quantity for a large group. Check the physical label for each guest’s needs.

McVitie’s

The McVitie’s Tasties Custard Creams listing describes a conventional 300g pack.

  • The stated pack weight can be compared with other conventional options when planning quantity.
  • The Joybuy listing describes this product as no longer available; check current availability rather than counting on it for the buffet.

Joybuy options for dietary-specific guests

This custard cream option is a smaller, individually portioned addition for guests seeking the stated dietary labels, not the main sharing quantity for a group.

Schar Gluten Free Custard Creams 125g pack

Schar Gluten Free Custard Creams 125g

A separately identifiable custard cream option for a buffet with guests seeking gluten-free or lactose-free biscuits. The 125g product is listed as gluten-free, lactose-free and vegan, with five individual two-biscuit packs; check the current physical label against each guest’s requirements. Its 10 stated servings make it a supplementary option rather than a large sharing pack.

View on Joybuy

Custard cream buffet questions

Is one large pack enough for a Boxing Day buffet?

That depends on the number of guests and whether custard creams are a main biscuit choice or one of several desserts. Tesco lists a 400g pack, while Tesco Groceries gives a typical count of 26 biscuits for Crawford’s 300g pack. Use a declared count or serving figure where available, and keep any reserve packets unopened until needed.

Can conventional custard creams serve guests avoiding gluten or dairy?

Do not assume they can: the Crawford’s and M&S products described here contain wheat and milk. Schär’s 125g custard creams are listed as gluten-free, lactose-free and vegan, but guests should still be able to check the current physical packaging for their particular requirements.

How should I keep opened custard creams during the buffet?

Follow the instructions on the pack you serve. Crawford’s advises keeping its biscuits in an airtight container once opened, while M&S advises storing its product in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. Leave additional packets closed until you need them.