Hosts serving guests with different preferences
If custard creams are one part of the biscuit table, an assortment offers other choices. Sainsbury’s lists malted milk, bourbon creams and shortcake alongside custard creams in its 700g variety pack.
Who are you serving?
Hosts planning a classic custard-cream spread
When guests are expecting traditional custard creams rather than a mixture, Tesco and ASDA each list a 400g standard packet.
Hosts checking milk or gluten requirements
The standard Tesco and ASDA custard creams contain wheat and milk. A separately labelled alternative needs its own label check; Sainsbury’s lists a milk- and gluten-free custard cream in a smaller 125g pack.
What should you check before buying?
Decide what belongs on the shared table first, then check whether the packaging and ingredient information work for the people you are serving.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Biscuit choice | Check whether the pack contains only custard creams or several biscuit types. Sainsbury’s 700g assortment includes four types; Tesco and ASDA list 400g classic custard-cream packets. | I’d like guests to choose between different biscuits, or I want everyone offered the same classic custard cream. |
| Allergens | Read the current ingredients and precautionary allergen statements. Tesco and ASDA standard packs contain wheat and milk; ASDA also lists possible rye, barley, oats and sesame. | A guest needs a suitable, clearly identified alternative, so I can’t assume an ordinary custard cream will work for them. |
| Portions and packaging | Compare pack weight and any stated serving count. Confirm individual wrapping on the pack if portions are intended for lunchboxes; a large sharing packet does not establish that format. | For a buffet, I can serve biscuits from a shared packet. For lunchboxes, I need to know exactly how each portion is packed. |
| School setting | If biscuits are for a school event, check the nation, school phase, who provides the food and the school’s policy. England’s Department for Education school-food guidance applies specifically to England. | A private christening and an event where a school provides food call for different checks; I need to confirm the setting before planning school servings. |
What could complicate the plan?
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Assuming a large packet contains wrapped portions
The listed 400g standard packets are sharing packets, not confirmed individually wrapped lunchbox portions.
Check the packaging description before buying for lunchboxes. For a shared table, plan how you will serve and store biscuits once the packet is open.
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Assuming every guest can eat ordinary custard creams
The Tesco and ASDA standard products contain wheat and milk, while precautionary allergen statements can differ between products.
Ask about relevant requirements, read each current pack label and keep any separately selected alternative clearly identified when serving.
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Building the spread around a limited-edition flavour pack
Sainsbury’s describes its 450g Summer Fruit Custard Cream Variety Pack as limited edition; the listed delivery or collection offer runs until 22 October 2026.
Check availability before making it the only planned biscuit, and choose another suitable format if it cannot be ordered for the event.
Which brands offer relevant formats?
Tesco
Tesco lists a 400g own-label packet of classic custard creams.
- A straightforward custard-cream-only sharing format.
- Its listed ingredients include wheat and whey powder from milk; the packet is not presented as individually portioned.
ASDA
ASDA lists a 400g own-label packet of classic custard creams.
- The listing suggests 34 servings, which can help with packet planning rather than determining guest numbers.
- It contains wheat and milk and lists possible rye, barley, oats and sesame.
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s lists several formats, including a 700g mixed-biscuit assortment, a 450g flavoured custard-cream variety pack and a 125g Free From packet.
- The assortment offers other biscuit types; the separate Free From product is labelled milk free and gluten free.
- The assortment does not state a separate custard-cream count, and the Free From packet is much smaller than the sharing formats.
M&S
M&S lists a 530g Triple Pack Biscuits product containing Extra Cream Custard Creams, malted milk biscuits and bourbon creams.
- Three biscuit types provide a mixed selection for the table.
- It is not a custard-cream-only pack; read the current labels for the components before serving guests with allergen requirements.
Crawford’s
Tesco lists Crawford’s custard creams in a 300g packet.
- A classic custard-cream option in a different stated pack size.
- The listed product contains wheat and milk; check availability before relying on it for the party.
Joybuy custard-cream options
This option is a smaller gluten-free custard-cream packet to consider for a guest who needs one, rather than a main sharing pack for the christening table.
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Schar Gluten Free Custard Creams 125g
For a guest seeking gluten-free custard creams, this 125g packet is a separate option rather than a large sharing pack. Check its current label for all relevant ingredients and allergens before serving.
Common questions
Should I buy only custard creams or a biscuit assortment?
Buy a classic packet if custard creams are the specific plan. If guests would appreciate a choice, Sainsbury’s 700g assortment includes custard creams alongside malted milk, bourbon creams and shortcake; it does not state how many of its biscuits are custard creams.
Can guests avoiding milk or gluten eat ordinary custard creams?
Do not assume so: the listed Tesco and ASDA standard products contain wheat and milk. Sainsbury’s separately lists 125g Free From Custard Creams as milk free and gluten free; check the current label of any product against the guest’s requirements.
Can I plan to serve custard creams at a school event?
Check the setting before planning them. England’s Department for Education school-food guidance applies to England, and the Requirements for School Food Regulations 2014 include provisions for food provided in particular school settings. Confirm the relevant nation, school phase, provider and school policy rather than applying a school rule to a private christening party.
How should I store custard creams after opening the packet?
Follow the packet directions. Tesco and ASDA instruct shoppers to keep their listed custard creams in a cool, dry place and use an airtight container once opened.