Shoppers who need gluten-free biscuits
Look for an explicit gluten-free claim on the exact pack rather than treating “bourbon cream” as a statement about its ingredients. M&S Extra Cream Bourbon Creams, for example, list wheatflour.
Who is this for?
Households with more than one dietary requirement
Tesco and Sainsbury's list their named Free From Bourbon Creams as gluten free, milk free and suitable for vegans. Check each claim on the pack you buy; it does not carry over to other bourbon creams.
Shoppers comparing cupboard biscuits
If you buy biscuits as part of the main shop, compare the pack size and per-biscuit nutrition information alongside dietary suitability. A gluten-free label does not tell you everything on the nutrition panel.
What should you check?
Start with the exact biscuit's gluten-free label, then check its other dietary claims and whether it fits the supermarket shop you are planning.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs and surveyed members' views |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free identification | Look for an explicit gluten-free claim on the exact variant. Read the current ingredients and allergen information on the pack; do not rely on the biscuit's name. | I want to recognise a suitable pack without guessing from its appearance. In Coeliac UK's 2025 shopping habits survey, 74.7% of 3,785 responding members said they trusted its Crossed Grain Trademark more than a gluten-free statement. That measures trust in the trademark, not whether these biscuits carry it. |
| Weekly-shop choice | Check the current listing at the supermarket you use and confirm the exact Free From variant before ordering. Tesco and Sainsbury's each list a 150g bourbon-cream pack. | Being able to add a suitable biscuit to my usual shop matters. Coeliac UK reported that 38.4% of the 3,785 members responding to its 2025 survey were happy with the gluten-free range in supermarkets; that result concerns supermarket ranges, not bourbon-biscuit stock. |
| Other dietary requirements | Check milk-free and vegan statements separately from the gluten-free claim. Confirm that each statement belongs to the precise pack you intend to buy. | If our household needs more than gluten-free suitability, I want one pack whose current label covers those requirements. |
| Nutrition per biscuit | Use the pack's per-biscuit figures for a portion comparison. Keep the serving basis the same when comparing two products. | I want to compare the biscuits we buy regularly, rather than assuming a gluten-free claim says anything about their nutrition. |
Common buying mistakes
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Assuming every bourbon cream is gluten free
A familiar biscuit name does not establish dietary suitability. M&S Extra Cream Bourbon Creams list wheatflour, whereas the named Tesco and Sainsbury's Free From variants are labelled gluten free.
Choose an explicitly labelled gluten-free variant when that claim is required, and read its current ingredients and allergen declaration.
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Treating “gluten free” as a nutrition comparison
A gluten-free claim answers a different question from the nutrition panel. It does not, by itself, compare sugar or saturated fat between biscuits.
If those figures matter to your purchase, compare the per-biscuit values on the packs as well as the gluten-free claim.
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Reordering without checking the new pack
Tesco and Sainsbury's advise that product ingredients and allergen information can change. A saved shopping-list entry does not show what is printed on the pack delivered this time.
Check the current pack before eating, particularly if its packaging or recipe appears to have changed.
Relevant supermarket ranges
These references distinguish named gluten-free bourbon creams from a retailer's wider biscuit range; a Free From range does not make every biscuit in it gluten free.
Tesco Free From
Tesco lists Free From Bourbon Creams in a 150g pack for shoppers looking for a bourbon-style biscuit.
- Tesco labels this variant gluten free, milk free and suitable for vegans.
- Check the physical pack for current ingredients and allergen information.
Sainsbury's Free From
Sainsbury's lists Free From Bourbon Creams in a 150g pack made with cocoa filling.
- Sainsbury's labels this variant gluten free, milk free and suitable for vegans.
- Reconfirm suitability using the ingredients and allergen information on the pack.
M&S Made Without / M&S
M&S has a separate free-from biscuit range, but its ordinary Extra Cream Bourbon Creams are a different product.
- The M&S free-from biscuit range includes a gluten-free gingerbread biscuit.
- M&S Extra Cream Bourbon Creams list wheatflour; do not treat them as a gluten-free substitute.
Joybuy product options
This gluten-free oat biscuit is an option for the weekly shop if you are open to something other than a bourbon cream.
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Nairns Gluten Free Biscuit Breaks Chunky Oats, Dark & Coconut 160g
A gluten-free oat biscuit for a weekly shop, but not a bourbon-cream sandwich biscuit. The pack size is 160g. If milk or oats are a concern, check the current pack's ingredients and allergen warning before choosing it.
Frequently asked questions
Are ordinary bourbon biscuits gluten free?
Not necessarily. Check the exact variant: M&S Extra Cream Bourbon Creams list wheatflour, while Tesco Free From Bourbon Creams and Sainsbury's Free From Bourbon Creams are labelled gluten free.
What should I look for on a gluten-free bourbon-biscuit pack?
Start with an explicit gluten-free claim for the exact biscuit, then read its ingredients and allergen information. Coeliac UK advises checking food labels, including the highlighted gluten-containing cereals in the ingredients list of prepacked foods.
Should I read the pack if the supermarket listing says gluten free?
Yes. Tesco and Sainsbury's advise that ingredients and allergen information can change, so check the physical pack you receive rather than relying solely on a saved listing.
Are gluten-free bourbon creams also milk free or vegan?
Tesco and Sainsbury's list their named Free From Bourbon Creams as milk free and suitable for vegans. Those statements concern those variants, so check the current pack rather than assuming they apply to other bourbon biscuits.