Hosts setting out biscuits for guests
Compare pack quantities with the number of people likely to take a biscuit and the other food you plan to serve. Check the packet’s instructions for storing any biscuits left after opening.
Who is this for?
Hosts catering for dietary needs
Standard wheat-and-milk custard creams and a separately labelled gluten-free option serve different needs. Keep the packets available so guests can check ingredients and precautionary allergen information.
Hosts with babies or young children attending
Plan their food separately rather than assuming biscuits set out for other guests are appropriate. NHS guidance advises avoiding sugary foods for children aged four or younger.
What should you check before buying?
Start with the quantity needed for the biscuit table, then check the recipe, guest requirements and whether the chosen pack can be ordered for the event.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Pack quantity | Compare net weights on the same gram basis: Tesco and ASDA list 400g; Crawford’s lists 300g. Use a stated biscuit count or serving guide only for its own product: Crawford’s says typically 26 biscuits, while ASDA suggests 34 servings. | I’m allowing for guests who will choose a biscuit and for the other food on the table; a serving guide cannot predict how many they will take. |
| Ingredients | Read the current ingredients and ‘may contain’ statements. Tesco and ASDA list wheat and milk; Schär’s separately labelled 125g option is gluten-free. | For a guest with a dietary requirement, I want the right packet identified and available to check, rather than mixed in with standard biscuits. |
| Biscuit style | Decide whether to serve standard custard creams or M&S Extra Cream Custard Creams 165g. M&S describes its variant as having more vanilla cream; Good Housekeeping’s 2020 taste result concerned a differently named M&S product. | A smaller extra-cream pack could sit alongside other refreshments, but an older result for another product would not settle this choice for me. |
| Young children | Plan their food separately. NHS guidance advises avoiding sugary foods for children aged four or younger and cautions against too many biscuits high in saturated fat. | If babies or very young children are attending, I won’t assume the adult biscuit table answers what to offer them. |
| Availability | Check the listing again before ordering. On 1 October 2026, Tesco listed Crawford’s 300g pack as out of stock, Sainsbury’s listed its 200g pack as out of stock, and Joybuy marked McVitie’s Tasties 300g as no longer available. | I need a pack I can obtain in time, with another suitable quantity or recipe in mind if my first choice cannot be ordered. |
What can go wrong when planning?
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Buying by ‘family pack’ wording alone
Pack sizes differ: Tesco and ASDA list 400g standard packs, Crawford’s lists 300g, and Schär’s specialist pack is 125g.
Estimate how many guests may take biscuits, then compare labelled weights and any count stated for the particular pack.
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Serving different recipes without their labels
Standard examples list wheat and milk, while specialist-diet descriptions and precautionary allergen statements differ.
Identify each biscuit separately and keep its packet available for guests to check.
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Applying an old taste result to a different variant
Good Housekeeping’s 2020 result named M&S Custard Creams; it does not establish a result for the currently listed M&S Extra Cream Custard Creams 165g.
Choose the current variant for its stated format and ingredients, not as though it were the biscuit in that test.
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Planning around an unavailable listing
Listings for Crawford’s 300g, Sainsbury’s 200g and McVitie’s Tasties 300g reported stock or availability restrictions on 1 October 2026.
Recheck availability close to the party and identify another suitable pack if needed.
Changing packs may mean adjusting how many packets you need.
Which brands and pack formats are relevant?
Tesco
Own-label custard creams listed in a 400g pack.
- The Tesco listing gives an airtight-container instruction for opened biscuits.
- Ingredients include wheat and milk; its precautionary notice says it may contain sesame.
ASDA
Own-label custard creams listed in a 400g pack.
- ASDA suggests 34 servings for this pack; that is its product-specific guide, not a party portion standard.
- The listing names wheat and milk and says the biscuits may contain rye, barley, oats and sesame.
Crawford’s
Custard creams listed in a 300g pack, with a typical count of 26 biscuits.
- The stated biscuit count offers another way to plan alongside pack weight.
- Tesco listed this pack as out of stock on 1 October 2026; check availability before planning around it.
M&S
Extra Cream Custard Creams are listed as a 165g variant.
- M&S describes this variant as having more vanilla cream.
- Its ingredients include wheat, milk and soya. Good Housekeeping’s 2020 result for M&S Custard Creams does not establish a result for this differently named variant.
Sainsbury’s
Own-label custard creams listed in a 200g pack.
- The product page states approximately 16 servings for this pack.
- It lists wheat and milk ingredients and was marked out of stock on 1 October 2026.
Schär
A separately labelled gluten-free custard-cream option in a 125g pack.
- The retailer describes five portion packs and identifies the product as suitable for vegans.
- Its smaller format is not a quantity substitute for a 400g sharing pack; check the packet against each guest’s requirements.
McVitie’s
Tasties Custard Creams were listed on Joybuy in a 300g pack.
- The listing identifies milk and wheat allergens.
- Joybuy marked this product as no longer available on 1 October 2026.
Joybuy options for dietary needs
This 125g gluten-free option is for a guest who needs a separately identified biscuit; it is not a larger standard sharing pack for the whole table.
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Schär Gluten Free Custard Creams 125g
A separate biscuit option for guests seeking a gluten-free product. The 125g pack contains five portion packs and is described as lactose-free and suitable for vegans; check its current packaging against each guest’s specific requirements. The product description warns that it is not suitable for young children because of a choking risk.
Questions about serving custard creams
How many packets should I buy for a christening party?
Estimate how many guests are likely to choose a biscuit and how many each might take, allowing for other food. Crawford’s lists a typical 26 biscuits in its 300g pack, while ASDA suggests 34 servings for its 400g pack; a biscuit count and a manufacturer’s serving guide are not interchangeable measures or guarantees of party consumption.
How should I keep biscuits left after the party?
Follow the instructions on the pack you buy. The Tesco, ASDA and Crawford’s listings direct cool, dry storage and an airtight container once opened.
Does a gluten-free or vegetarian label answer every allergy question?
No. Check the current ingredients and precautionary allergen statement against the particular guest’s needs. Tesco’s custard creams list wheat and milk, while the separately listed Schär product is described as gluten-free; neither description replaces a check of the relevant packet.
Should I offer custard creams to the baby being christened?
Do not assume biscuits served to other guests are appropriate for the baby. NHS guidance says babies do not need sugar or sweeteners and advises avoiding sugary foods for children aged four or younger.
Do school-food rules in England cover a private christening party?
Department for Education guidance on school food addresses food provided to pupils in state-funded schools in England; it does not establish a ban on biscuits at a private party. If an event forms part of school food provision, its circumstances need to be checked against the applicable rules.