Choose chocolate-coated custard creams when the chocolate layer is the point of the snack; choose a larger classic pack when you need biscuits to pass around during the match. Tesco Groceries lists a 162g milk-chocolate-coated pack and a 400g plain pack, while Ocado lists M&S white-chocolate-coated custard creams for those who prefer that coating. Check pack size, allergens and storage instructions before serving.
If several people will dip into the bowl, check the weight of the pack rather than assuming coated and plain options provide similar amounts. Tesco Groceries lists its classic custard creams in a 400g pack and its milk-chocolate-coated version in a 162g pack.
Tesco Groceries lists milk chocolate as 52% of its coated custard creams. Ocado lists both milk- and white-chocolate-coated M&S versions, so the type of chocolate can guide the choice.
Check the current packet for each biscuit you intend to serve. The coated and plain examples have different ingredient and allergen statements; a vegetarian label does not establish suitability for someone avoiding milk, wheat or soya.
Decide whether the coating or the amount to share matters more, then compare the labels of the packs you are considering.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Coating and flavour | Check whether the biscuit is uncoated, milk-chocolate-coated or white-chocolate-coated. Tesco Groceries lists 52% milk chocolate in its coated version; Ocado describes the M&S white-chocolate version as more than 50% chocolate. | I want the chocolate coating to be part of the snack, rather than choosing a classic vanilla-filled biscuit. |
| Amount to share | Compare pack weights and, where stated, the number of biscuits or servings. Tesco Groceries lists 162g coated and 400g plain packs; Ocado lists six biscuits in the 191g M&S white-chocolate pack. | There will be several people watching, so I need to know how much the pack contains before putting it out. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen statement on the current packet for the exact variety. The compared coated products list milk, wheat and soya; the plain examples also contain wheat and milk ingredients, and some carry a possible-sesame warning. | A guest avoids a particular ingredient, so I need to check each pack rather than treat custard creams as interchangeable. |
| Portion information | Compare like measures on the nutrition labels. Tesco Groceries lists 139kcal and 4.0g saturates per 27g coated biscuit, against 59kcal and 1.5g saturates per smaller plain biscuit. | I want to see what one biscuit represents before deciding how many to put in the serving bowl. |
| Storage | Check the packet’s storage and after-opening instructions. Ocado lists cool, dry storage away from sunlight for the M&S coated biscuits, with airtight storage after opening. | The biscuits may be out throughout the match, so I want to serve some and store the rest as the pack directs. |
A smaller pack may run out sooner when several people are sharing. Tesco Groceries lists 162g for its milk-chocolate-coated custard creams and 400g for its classic version.
Check the pack weight and any biscuit or serving count against the number of people watching. If you want both varieties, consider how much of each you plan to put out.
The compared coated biscuits contain milk, wheat and soya, while the plain examples contain wheat and milk ingredients; some listings also warn of possible sesame. Vegetarian suitability does not answer an allergy question.
Read the current label for the exact flavour and pack before serving it to a guest with an allergy.
Tesco Groceries lists 139kcal and 4.0g saturates for one 27g coated biscuit, compared with 59kcal and 1.5g saturates for one smaller plain biscuit. The per-biscuit figures describe different-sized portions.
Use the serving size alongside the nutrition figures when deciding what to put out.
The listed storage instructions call for cool, dry conditions; Ocado’s M&S listings also specify keeping the biscuits away from sunlight and storing them airtight after opening.
Put out a portion and store the remainder according to the packet instructions.
These examples illustrate coated and classic custard creams; check the exact product label when choosing a pack.
Tesco Groceries lists both a 162g milk-chocolate-coated custard cream pack and a 400g classic pack.
Ocado lists M&S milk- and white-chocolate-coated custard creams in 191g packs.
Tesco Groceries lists Crawford's Custard Creams as a 300g classic, uncoated option.
This option is a classic custard cream for viewers considering an uncoated biscuit alongside the chocolate-coated varieties discussed above.
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For a football-watching spread that includes classic custard creams, this 125g pack is an uncoated option. Check the current packet’s ingredients and allergen statement before serving it to guests.
Check its weight and biscuit count against the number of people watching. Tesco Groceries lists a 162g coated pack and a 400g classic pack; Ocado lists six biscuits in the 191g M&S white-chocolate-coated pack. The larger classic pack is an option when the amount to share matters more than the coating.
Follow the instructions on the pack you buy. The Tesco and M&S coated-biscuit listings specify cool, dry storage; the M&S listings also say to keep the biscuits away from sunlight and store them airtight after opening.
Do not assume that any of these compared packs is suitable: the coated examples list milk and wheat, and the plain examples contain wheat and milk ingredients. Check the current packet’s full allergen statement for the exact product before serving it.
Tesco Groceries lists its coated and classic custard creams, and Crawford's custard creams, as suitable for vegetarians; the compared M&S coated varieties are also listed as vegetarian. That designation does not establish that a biscuit is vegan or suitable for someone with an allergy, so check the current pack for those requirements.