Pack chocolate-coated custard creams if the chocolate coating is part of the treat you want to serve; choose plain ones if guests would rather have a vanilla sandwich biscuit without it. Bringing both can accommodate different preferences, but compare pack sizes and follow each pack’s storage and ingredient directions before taking biscuits outdoors.
Compare what you can carry with where you can keep the biscuits. Tesco lists a 162g coated pack and a 400g plain pack; M&S lists coated 64g and 191g formats. Pack weight does not tell you how many biscuits are individually wrapped.
Ask whether guests would prefer coated biscuits, plain ones or a choice of both. Keep the actual packs available so anyone who needs to check ingredients can read their labels before eating.
Choose when: You want the milk-chocolate-coated, vanilla-filled biscuit described in Tesco’s and M&S’s product listings.
Bear in mind: The listed coated packs call for cool, dry storage, and M&S also says to keep its packs away from sunlight.
Choose when: You want a vanilla sandwich biscuit without a chocolate coating; Tesco lists a 400g plain pack for comparison.
Bear in mind: Plain does not mean allergen-free: Tesco’s plain recipe lists wheat and milk ingredients and says it may contain sesame.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Coating | Check whether the pack describes a milk-chocolate coating or an uncoated vanilla sandwich biscuit. Tesco lists both types, but they are different recipes and pack sizes. | I’d like a chocolate-coated treat, a plain biscuit, or a choice of both for the group. |
| Pack and storage | Compare labelled net weights rather than assuming a serving count. Follow the pack’s storage directions: the listed Tesco packs call for a cool, dry place, while M&S also specifies keeping its coated packs away from sunlight. | I need an amount I can carry and somewhere to keep the biscuits as directed before serving them. |
| Ingredients | Read the current ingredients and precautionary statements on each pack. Tesco’s plain custard creams list wheat and milk ingredients and say they may contain sesame. | Someone in the group needs to check what is in the biscuits before accepting one; I won’t assume that plain means allergen-free. |
Tesco’s plain custard creams contain wheat and milk ingredients and carry a precautionary sesame statement.
Ask guests about their requirements, then check the ingredients and precautionary wording on the exact packs you buy.
The listed coated Tesco and M&S products specify cool, dry storage; M&S also says to keep its packs away from sunlight.
Check whether you can follow those directions where the biscuits will be kept. If the coating is not important, compare a plain pack too.
The documented packs have different net weights, which alone do not establish how many portions they provide or whether biscuits are individually wrapped.
Check the pack’s serving information and packaging details when deciding how much to bring.
Tesco lists a 162g milk-chocolate-coated custard cream pack and a 400g plain custard cream pack.
M&S lists milk-chocolate-coated custard creams with vanilla filling in 64g and 191g formats.
The documented McVitie's Tasties Custard Creams Biscuits 300g listing describes a plain cream sandwich biscuit.
A Sainsbury's listing describes a 200g plain custard cream pack.
This plain custard cream option is for comparing with chocolate-coated packs when deciding what to take to a festival.
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For a plain custard cream choice to carry, this is a 125g pack labelled gluten-free. Check its current ingredients and storage directions before sharing it with anyone who has dietary requirements.
Follow the directions on the particular pack. The listed Tesco coated and plain products call for cool, dry storage and an airtight container once opened; M&S also directs shoppers to keep its coated products away from sunlight. These directions do not specify a temperature for every outdoor setting.
Do not assume so: Tesco’s listed plain custard creams contain whey powder from milk and wheat flour. Check the current ingredients on the exact pack you intend to serve.
Read the ingredients list on the pack before offering it to someone with an allergy. GOV.UK guidance says that any of the 14 regulated allergens present as ingredients in UK prepacked food must be clearly identified within that list; also check any precautionary statements on the product you buy.