Organisers adding a familiar biscuit
A standard custard cream can sit alongside tea, coffee and other desserts. Pack size, storage and how allergen information will remain available matter when planning the service.
Who is choosing?
Couples and caterers planning for gluten-free guests
Portion packs can keep a biscuit identified until it is served. The product label and the buffet’s cross-contact arrangements still need separate attention.
Hosts arranging a smaller dessert table
A smaller extra-cream pack may suit a selection centred on distinctive biscuits rather than a large supply of standard custard creams.
What should you check?
Decide whether you want loose biscuits or portions kept in their packs, then check the delivered labels and how guests will obtain allergen information.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Allergen information | Check the actual packs and keep accurate ingredient and allergen information available when biscuits are set out. Food Standards Agency guidance addresses allergen information for both prepacked and non-prepacked food served by food businesses. | I want guests to be able to identify what is in the biscuits, even if the original wrappers are no longer beside the serving dish. |
| Dietary suitability | Check the exact product label for the required dietary claim and allergens. The Crawford’s and Sainsbury’s standard products described by their retailers contain wheat and milk; the Schär product listed by ASDA is labelled wheat-free. | If a guest needs a gluten-free biscuit, I need a separately identified option rather than assuming a standard custard cream will do. |
| Serving format | Tesco Groceries lists approximately 26 biscuits in Crawford’s 300g pack. ASDA lists Schär’s 125g product in small two-biscuit portion packs; M&S lists its Extra Cream custard creams in a 165g pack. | Will loose biscuits work for the table, or would keeping individual portions in their wrappers make serving and identification simpler? |
| Ordering and storage | Confirm stock before settling quantities. Read the delivered pack for its current ingredients, best-before date and storage instructions; the standard and gluten-free product information reviewed specifies cool, dry storage. | For a fixed wedding date, I need enough of the chosen format and labels that match the food actually served. |
Common buffet-planning pitfalls
-
Assuming one gluten-free product makes the whole buffet suitable
A label describes that product, not what happens when food is opened or handled beside other buffet items.
Keep portion packs identified until service and ask the caterer how allergen information and cross-contact will be managed for the actual layout.
-
Serving standard biscuits without checking allergens
The Crawford’s and Sainsbury’s custard creams described in their retailer listings contain wheat and milk; Tesco Groceries also lists possible sesame for Crawford’s.
Identify standard biscuits clearly and check a separate product against the relevant guest’s dietary requirements before choosing an alternative.
-
Fixing quantities before confirming stock
A pack count is useful for planning, but it cannot establish what will be available when an event order is placed.
Check stock before ordering and have another option that meets the same serving-format and dietary requirements.
-
Using an online ingredient list as the final label
Product details can change between planning and delivery, affecting the information given to guests.
Read the packs received for the wedding and update the caterer’s allergen information if it differs from the planning notes.
Relevant brand references
These examples illustrate different custard-cream formats; a brand reference is not a substitute for checking the particular pack you buy.
McVitie’s
McVitie’s Tasties Custard Creams are a conventional 300g cream-filled biscuit listed by Joybuy.
- The listing describes the biscuits as suitable for vegetarians.
- Its allergen information lists milk and wheat, with possible sesame. Confirm availability before including it in an order.
Crawford’s
Tesco Groceries lists Crawford’s custard creams as a standard 300g pack with approximately 26 biscuits.
- The listed biscuit count helps estimate a supplementary buffet serving.
- The product contains wheat and milk and may contain sesame; confirm stock before planning around that pack.
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s lists an own-brand custard cream in a 200g pack.
- The listing gives approximately 16 servings for pack planning.
- Its ingredients include wheat and cows’ milk, so it is not the wheat-free option.
M&S
M&S describes its 165g Extra Cream Custard Creams as having more vanilla cream and real custard powder.
- The smaller pack offers a different choice for a dessert table built around a few biscuit varieties.
- The listed ingredients include wheat, milk and soya; check local stock and the delivered label.
Schär
ASDA lists Schär’s 125g gluten-free custard creams in small packs containing two biscuits each.
- The listed product is labelled wheat-free and lactose-free and described as suitable for vegans.
- Portion packaging does not manage cross-contact elsewhere on the buffet; check the delivered label and serving arrangements.
Joybuy product options
This custard cream option is for a wedding buffet where separately portioned gluten-free biscuits suit the serving plan. Check the delivered pack and agree with the caterer how it will be handled.
No image available
Schär Gluten Free Custard Creams 125g
A gluten-free custard cream option for a buffet where keeping portions identified until service matters. The pack is 125g; confirm its current label and the caterer’s cross-contact arrangements before serving.
Questions about serving custard creams
Does a wedding caterer need allergen information for buffet biscuits?
Yes, when the venue or caterer is operating as a food business: Food Standards Agency guidance says food businesses must provide allergen information for prepacked and non-prepacked food. Keep accurate information about the biscuits served accessible throughout service and confirm the caterer’s arrangements.
Can standard custard creams be the gluten-free choice?
Not the Crawford’s or Sainsbury’s standard products described here: their retailer listings include wheat ingredients. Choose a product labelled for the required dietary need, check the delivered pack and consider how it will be handled on the buffet.
Do individual portion packs remove the risk of cross-contact?
No. The Schär portion packs listed by ASDA can help keep the product identified until service, but the caterer still needs to manage handling and cross-contact across the buffet.
How should unopened custard creams be stored before the wedding?
The standard and gluten-free product information reviewed specifies cool, dry storage. Follow the storage instructions and best-before date on the packs actually delivered, particularly when ordering ahead.
When should I check stock and ingredients for a fixed wedding date?
Check stock before placing the final order, then read the labels when the biscuits arrive. If the delivered ingredients differ from your planning notes, update the information the caterer will give guests.