Hosts sharing biscuits with a group
If several people will have biscuits with tea or coffee, check the pack weight and decide whether one pack will be enough to put out.
Who is buying for afternoon tea?
Hosts catering for dietary requirements
A guest who needs to avoid gluten or milk may need a separately labelled option. Check that option’s ingredients and allergen statements as well as those on the biscuits for the rest of the group.
Shoppers planning a smaller tea break
If quantity is less important, an extra-cream or chocolate-coated variation offers a different style of biscuit. Check its pack weight before choosing it for several guests.
What should you check before choosing?
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Pack size | Read the weight and consider how many packs to put out. Documented standard packs include Crawford's 300g and ASDA 400g; smaller varieties include 125g free-from and 165g extra-cream packs. | I’m serving several people and want enough biscuits without relying on a small pack to stretch across the table. |
| Allergens | Check the exact pack’s ingredients, highlighted allergens and any precautionary statements. ASDA lists wheat and milk in its standard 400g custard creams; Sainsbury's describes its separate 125g Free From variety as milk and gluten free. | Someone joining us needs a biscuit labelled for their dietary requirement, so I cannot assume the standard pack is suitable. |
| Biscuit style | Decide between a standard sandwich biscuit and a variation such as M&S Extra Cream Custard Creams, which M&S describes as containing extra vanilla cream and real custard powder. Its pack is 165g. | For a smaller tea break, I’d consider a different filling; for a larger group, I’d check how many packs that choice requires. |
Common buying mistakes
-
Treating a small free-from pack as a sharing pack
A 125g free-from pack contains less by weight than a standard 400g pack, so it may not cover the same number of guests.
Plan the quantity for the group separately, and choose a clearly labelled alternative for any guest who needs one.
-
Assuming all custard creams have the same allergens
ASDA’s standard custard creams list wheat and milk, while Sainsbury's describes its separate Free From variety as milk and gluten free. Tesco notes that food ingredients and allergen information can change.
Read the ingredients, highlighted allergens and any precautionary statements on each current pack before serving it.
-
Choosing a smaller variation without checking its weight
M&S Extra Cream Custard Creams come in a 165g pack, compared with documented standard custard cream packs of 300g and 400g.
For a larger table, check whether you need additional packs or would rather put out a larger standard format.
Custard cream brands and product ranges
ASDA
ASDA lists a standard 400g Custard Creams pack, a size to consider when putting biscuits out for a group.
- The listed pack weighs 400g.
- It contains wheat and milk and has precautionary statements for rye, barley, oats and sesame.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's lists a standard 200g custard cream and a separate 125g Free From variety.
- The standard 200g product is labelled suitable for vegetarians; the 125g Free From product is described as milk and gluten free.
- These are distinct products, so check the label of the pack you choose rather than applying one variety’s dietary description to the other.
Tesco
Tesco lists a 400g Custard Cream Biscuits pack.
- The 400g format is an option to consider for a shared tea break.
- Tesco cautions that ingredients and allergen information can change; check the current pack when serving guests with dietary requirements.
McVitie's
McVitie's Tasties Custard Creams are listed in a 300g pack on Joybuy.
- An OrderMate product description identifies a custard-flavour filling between two biscuits.
- Check the exact pack’s allergen information before serving anyone with a dietary requirement.
Crawford's
Tesco lists Crawford's Custard Creams in a 300g pack.
- Tesco describes them as sandwich biscuits with a vanilla-flavour cream filling.
- Check the exact pack’s allergen statements before including them in a dietary-sensitive spread.
M&S
M&S offers variations on the standard custard cream, including a 165g Extra Cream pack and a chocolate-coated biscuit.
- M&S describes its Extra Cream variety as containing extra vanilla cream and real custard powder.
- At 165g, the Extra Cream pack is smaller by weight than the documented 300g and 400g standard packs; check how many you need for the group.
A Joybuy custard cream option
This 125g Schar pack is a gluten-free option to consider when setting out a separately labelled biscuit for a guest, rather than a large standard sharing pack.
Image unavailable
Schar Gluten Free Custard Creams 125g
The 125g pack offers a smaller gluten-free custard cream option for a guest who needs one. Check its current ingredients and precautionary allergen statements before serving.
Questions about sharing custard creams
What pack size should I choose for a shared afternoon tea?
A standard 300g–400g pack is a starting point, but check the weight against your guest numbers and add packs if needed. Documented examples include Crawford's 300g and ASDA 400g custard creams; a 125g free-from pack serves a different, smaller-format need.
Can someone avoiding wheat or milk eat ordinary custard creams?
Do not assume they can: ASDA’s standard Custard Creams list both wheat and milk. Sainsbury's describes its separate Free From Custard Creams as milk and gluten free; check the current physical pack and its precautionary statements against the guest’s requirements before serving.
Which allergen details should I check on a biscuit pack?
Read the current ingredients list, emphasised allergens and any precautionary statements on the pack. The UK Food Standards Agency says allergens present in prepacked food must be emphasised in its ingredients list; product details can also change when a recipe is reformulated.
Will an extra-cream pack be enough for a group?
Check the weight before deciding: M&S Extra Cream Custard Creams come in a 165g pack, while documented standard alternatives include 300g and 400g packs. You may need more than one smaller pack if several people are sharing.
How should I store custard creams after opening?
Follow the instructions on the pack you bought. Sainsbury's advises storing its standard Custard Creams in an airtight container once opened.