Hosts bringing biscuits to share
Plain digestives offer a wheat-and-wholemeal biscuit, while standard custard creams have a vanilla-flavour filling. Decide which style suits the group, then check the pack weight or suggested servings.
Who is each option for?
The useful starting point is the biscuit your guests want to eat, followed by any dietary requirements and the number of people sharing.
Buyers checking dietary requirements
The standard custard creams described by Sainsbury’s and Asda contain wheat and milk. Specifically labelled free-from custard creams have different ingredient and suitability statements, so check the exact pack before serving a guest with an allergy or other dietary requirement.
Buyers seeking an extra-cream custard cream
M&S describes its Extra Cream Custard Creams as having more vanilla cream and real custard powder. Its 165g pack is a different format from the larger standard sharing packs; the description is a product claim, not a taste-test result.
What should you check before buying?
Choose the biscuit style first, then check the exact pack for allergens, quantity and storage instructions. Per-biscuit nutrition figures describe particular products and are not an equal-weight comparison.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Biscuit style | Check whether you want a plain wheat-and-wholemeal biscuit or a vanilla-flavour cream sandwich biscuit. McVitie’s lists 2.2g sugars per Original Digestive; Sainsbury’s lists 3.3g per standard custard cream. Biscuit sizes may differ. | I would choose digestives for a plain biscuit, or custard creams when the filling matters more to the group. |
| Dietary suitability | Read the exact pack’s wheat, gluten and milk statements. Sainsbury’s labels its 125g Free From Custard Creams milk and gluten free; the cited Schär 125g product is labelled wheat free and lactose free. Those are distinct claims. | If a guest has a dietary requirement, I need a specifically labelled product that meets it—not an assumption based on the words ‘custard cream’ or ‘digestive’. |
| Sharing format | Compare pack weight, suggested servings and any separate portions. Asda suggests 34 servings for its 400g custard creams; Sainsbury’s describes about 16 servings in its 200g standard pack. | For a larger group, I want enough biscuits to share. For a guest needing a separate free-from option, I would check that pack’s size independently. |
| Outdoor handling | Follow the purchased pack’s storage directions. The cited Sainsbury’s and Asda custard creams specify cool, dry storage and an airtight container after opening; M&S also specifies keeping its Extra Cream Custard Creams away from sunlight. | I need biscuits that can stay protected from moisture and direct sun while travelling and waiting to be served. |
Picnic buying mistakes to avoid
-
Assuming every custard cream meets the same dietary needs
The standard custard creams described by Sainsbury’s and Asda contain wheat and milk. A free-from claim applies to the particular product carrying that label, not to the biscuit category.
Ask guests about requirements before buying, then read the current ingredient and allergen information on the exact pack before serving.
-
Choosing a pack without checking how far it goes
Asda suggests 34 servings for its 400g standard custard creams, while Sainsbury’s describes about 16 in its 200g pack. The cited free-from custard-cream packs are 125g, so one pack may not cover the same group.
Count the people you expect to serve and compare pack weights or stated servings. Plan a separate dietary pack where needed.
-
Leaving the biscuits open outdoors
The cited products call for cool, dry storage, and some specify an airtight container after opening. An open pack is harder to protect from moisture during a picnic.
Keep biscuits sealed during transport, place them out of direct sun and follow the pack’s instructions once opened.
-
Judging nutrition from an extra-cream description
‘Extra cream’ describes the style of M&S Extra Cream Custard Creams; it does not establish how their nutrition compares with another biscuit. M&S lists 40.2g sugars and 13.5g saturates per 100g for that 165g product.
If nutrition affects your choice, compare the panels on the exact packs using the same basis, such as per 100g.
Relevant brand and retailer ranges
These examples show how the biscuit styles and pack formats differ; the statements apply to the named products, not every product from each brand.
McVitie’s
McVitie’s Original Digestives are the plain wheat-and-wholemeal option in this comparison.
- Tesco lists the cited 360g Original Digestives as suitable for vegans and vegetarians; McVitie’s lists 2.2g sugars per biscuit.
- McVitie’s states that the product contains cereals with gluten and may contain milk. Check the pack when serving guests with dietary requirements.
Crawford’s
Tesco describes Crawford’s 300g Custard Creams as sandwich biscuits with a vanilla-flavour cream filling.
- The cited listing describes them as suitable for vegetarians and free from artificial colours and flavours.
- They contain wheat and milk and may contain sesame; check the current pack before serving.
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s lists both standard 200g Custard Creams and a distinct 125g Free From version.
- The Free From product is labelled milk and gluten free and suitable for vegans and coeliacs.
- The standard product contains wheat and milk. Do not transfer the Free From product’s claims to it, and check the pack purchased.
Asda
Asda’s standard Custard Creams come in a 400g pack with 34 suggested servings.
- The product has a vanilla-flavour filling and a pack format to consider when serving a larger group.
- Asda states that it contains wheat and milk. Its allergen information must be checked separately from that of free-from products.
M&S
M&S describes its 165g Extra Cream Custard Creams as containing more vanilla cream and real custard powder.
- The product offers an extra-cream style for buyers who specifically want that filling.
- M&S lists 40.2g sugars and 13.5g saturates per 100g. Its storage directions specify a cool, dry place away from sunlight.
Joybuy biscuit options
These options cover a labelled gluten-free custard cream and two digestive pack formats. They do not replace the need to check each purchased pack for your guests’ requirements.
No image available
Schär Gluten Free Custard Creams 125g
A cream-filled option to check when a guest needs a specifically labelled gluten-free biscuit. Joybuy describes this 125g Schär product as gluten-free, lactose-free and vegan; check the physical pack against the guest’s exact requirements. The smaller pack may need separate planning for a group.
No image available
McVitie’s Digestives the Original 2x315g
Choose this plain digestive format when the group would rather have a biscuit without a cream filling. The listing identifies two 315g packs; check whether that quantity suits your group and read the purchased packs’ allergen and storage instructions.
No image available
Gullon Zero Sugar Free Original Digestives 400g
A 400g digestive pack for comparing with other plain-biscuit formats. ‘Sugar Free’ is part of this product’s name; check its current nutrition panel, ingredients and allergen statement rather than assuming it meets a particular dietary requirement.
Questions about picnic biscuits
Are custard creams and digestives the same kind of biscuit?
No. McVitie’s describes its Original Digestive as a biscuit made with wheat and wholemeal wheat flour, while the cited standard custard creams are sandwich biscuits with a vanilla-flavour filling. Choose the style your picnic group wants rather than treating the names as interchangeable.
Can I take these biscuits to a picnic without a cool box?
The cited digestive and custard-cream packs give cool, dry storage instructions rather than chilled-storage instructions. Keep the pack protected from moisture and direct sun, and follow the directions on the product you buy; the cited M&S Extra Cream Custard Creams specifically say to store them away from sunlight.
Are standard custard creams gluten-free or milk-free?
Do not assume they are. The standard custard creams described by Sainsbury’s and Asda contain wheat and milk. Sainsbury’s separately labels its 125g Free From Custard Creams milk and gluten free; read the current pack to confirm that a particular product meets your guest’s requirements.
Which cited biscuit lists less sugar per biscuit?
McVitie’s lists 2.2g sugars per Original Digestive, compared with 3.3g per biscuit for Sainsbury’s standard Custard Creams. These figures apply to those named products; biscuits may differ in size, so use the per 100g panels if you want to compare them on the same weight basis.
Is an online product description enough to check allergens?
Use it to narrow down your options, but read the physical pack before serving. Check the exact product’s ingredients, allergen statement and suitability labels, particularly when buying a separate biscuit for a guest with a dietary requirement.