Choose the pack format around how you will use the biscuits: Schär’s five individually wrapped portions suit separate servings, while a 400g single-variety packet gives a baker more custard creams to work with. M&S’s 530g triple pack offers three biscuit varieties, but its total weight is not the weight of the custard creams alone. Check the varieties, ingredients and amount you need before choosing.
A recipe that needs one type of biscuit calls for a different pack from a lunchbox that needs ready-separated portions.
If the recipe calls for custard creams alone, check how much of that biscuit the pack contains. Tesco and Asda each list a 400g single-variety packet; the weight of a mixed pack also includes its other biscuits.
Schär’s 125g box contains five individual packs of two custard creams, which may be useful when portions need to be packed separately. For routine lunchboxes, the NHS suggests alternatives to biscuits, including fruit and fruit breads.
Check the actual biscuit pack and every other ingredient in the recipe. The listed Tesco and Asda custard creams contain wheat and milk; Schär’s gluten-free custard creams may contain lupin.
Decide whether you need one biscuit in quantity, an assortment, or portions that are already separated; then check the pack itself against the planned use.
Choose when: Separate servings matter more than having a large amount for a recipe; Schär lists five two-biscuit packs.
Trade-off: The box contains 125g in total, and its gluten-free label does not settle suitability for every allergy.
Choose when: A bake or gathering can use custard creams alongside malted milk and bourbon creams.
Trade-off: M&S’s stated 530g covers all three varieties, so it cannot be treated as 530g of custard creams.
Choose when: A recipe or sharing plan calls for a larger quantity of custard creams alone; Tesco and Asda list 400g packets.
Trade-off: These are not individually wrapped portions, and both listings call for airtight storage after opening.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Usable quantity | Check the pack weight and its biscuit varieties separately. Tesco and Asda list 400g of custard creams each; M&S’s 530g triple pack contains three varieties. | For a recipe specifying custard creams, I need enough of that biscuit—not just enough biscuits overall. |
| Separate portions | Count the individual packs and biscuits per pack. Schär lists five packs of two biscuits, weighing 125g in total. | Ready-separated servings would be useful for occasional lunchboxes or snacks. The NHS suggests other foods in place of biscuits for routine lunchboxes. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the actual pack’s ingredients and precautionary allergen statements. The listed Tesco and Asda products contain wheat and milk; Schär’s listing says it may contain lupin. | If I am baking for someone with an allergy, I need to check the biscuits and every other recipe ingredient against their specific requirements. |
| Storage | Check the pack’s best-before date when buying ahead. Tesco and Asda direct buyers to use an airtight container after opening their 400g packets. | I may open the packet before the baking day, so I need a way to store what remains as directed. |
M&S’s 530g triple pack includes malted milk and bourbon creams, while Schär’s five portion packs contain 125g of custard creams altogether. Neither pack weight means the same thing for a recipe requiring custard creams alone.
Check the varieties and the amount of custard creams you can use, as well as the number of separately wrapped portions.
Schär’s custard creams may contain lupin. The listed standard Tesco and Asda biscuits contain wheat and milk, so the packs present different ingredient considerations.
Read the full ingredients and precautionary statements on the actual pack, and check the other ingredients in the bake. Food Standards Scotland notes that cooking does not remove food allergens.
Tesco and Asda both instruct buyers to keep their listed custard creams in an airtight container once opened.
Plan when to open the packet, follow its storage directions and check its best-before date when buying for a later bake.
These examples show how biscuit formats differ; a brand name alone does not tell you whether a packet contains separate portions or enough custard creams for a recipe.
Morrisons lists McVitie’s Tasties Custard Creams as a 300g single-variety packet.
Tesco lists Crawford’s Custard Creams in a 300g packet.
Tesco’s own-label custard creams come in a listed 400g single-variety packet.
Asda lists an own-label 400g packet of custard creams.
M&S lists a 165g extra-cream custard-cream packet, a 530g mixed triple pack and a separate make-your-own product.
Schär’s 125g gluten-free custard creams are listed as five individual packs of two biscuits.
This portion-pack option is relevant when you want custard creams already separated for occasional lunchboxes or snacks; check its total quantity if you are buying for a recipe.
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The individually portioned format suits separate servings rather than a recipe requiring a large quantity of biscuits.
The 125g box is listed as five packs of two biscuits. It is described as gluten-free and lactose-free, but the retailer’s listing says it may contain lupin; check the actual pack for the person you are serving.
Yes, if you use its custard-cream portion and have enough for the recipe, or the recipe also works with the other biscuits. M&S’s 530g triple pack includes malted milk and bourbon creams, so 530g is the weight of the whole assortment.
No. M&S lists a separate make-your-own product with eight large, unfilled biscuits for adding your own filling. Follow the chosen recipe rather than substituting them biscuit-for-biscuit for ordinary filled custard creams.
Follow the directions on the pack. Tesco and Asda instruct buyers to keep their listed custard creams in an airtight container after opening; check the actual pack’s best-before date if you are buying ahead for a bake.
Check every actual ingredient pack, including precautionary statements, against the person’s specific allergies. The listed Tesco and Asda custard creams contain wheat and milk, while Schär’s gluten-free product may contain lupin. Food Standards Scotland advises that cooking does not remove food allergens.