Hosts serving a gluten-free guest
Look for an explicit gluten-free claim on the custard creams and check the physical pack before serving. A standard biscuit with the same name is not necessarily suitable.
Who is the party pack for?
Hosts accommodating more than one dietary requirement
If guests also avoid milk or eat vegan food, check for those claims separately. The Tesco, Sainsbury’s and ASDA Free From custard cream listings state gluten-free, milk-free and vegan suitability.
Hosts setting out a self-serve table
Schär’s listed 125g pack contains five individual portion packs. They offer an alternative to opening a single packet for everyone, though gluten-free food still needs to be kept separate from other snacks.
What should you check before buying?
Start with the dietary claims your guests need, then choose a pack format that works for the number of guests and the way the biscuits will be served.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free labelling | Check the current pack for an explicit gluten-free claim, then read its ingredients and allergen information. Do not treat a familiar biscuit name as a dietary claim. | I’m serving someone who needs gluten-free food, so I want to confirm the claim on the pack I actually buy. |
| Serving separation | Decide whether individual portions or a separate dish suit the table. Keep gluten-free biscuits away from gluten-containing food and use clean, dedicated utensils, in line with Coeliac UK’s catering guidance. | Guests will help themselves, and I need a way to prevent the gluten-free biscuits being mixed with other snacks. |
| Other dietary claims | Check milk-free and vegan claims separately from gluten-free labelling. Lactose-free wording is not the same as an explicit milk-free claim. | If a guest avoids milk as well as gluten, I’ll choose a pack that explicitly addresses both requirements. |
| Portions for guests | Compare the stated serving format with your guest count: the listed Schär 125g pack has five portion packs of two biscuits, while the Sainsbury’s and ASDA Free From 125g listings state nine servings each. | I want enough servings for the people invited, rather than assuming every 125g pack serves the same number. |
Party-table mistakes to avoid
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Picking ordinary custard creams by name alone
ASDA’s regular Custard Creams listing declares wheat and milk. The biscuit style does not tell you whether a particular pack is gluten-free.
Choose a pack explicitly labelled gluten-free and re-read its ingredients and allergen information before serving.
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Assuming gluten-free means milk-free
These are separate claims. The Tesco, Sainsbury’s and ASDA Free From listings state both; lactose-free wording on a different product is not an equivalent milk-free claim.
If milk avoidance matters for a guest, check the current pack for an explicit milk-free claim and the relevant allergen information.
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Mixing biscuits on a shared table
Gluten-containing crumbs or shared utensils can bring gluten into contact with food chosen for a gluten-free guest.
Label and place the gluten-free biscuits separately, with dedicated or thoroughly cleaned serving utensils. Coeliac UK advises keeping gluten-free and gluten-containing food separate.
Relevant brand and own-label options
These references concern the specified custard cream products, not every biscuit made by each brand.
Schär
The Schär Gluten-Free Custard Creams 125g listing describes five individual portion packs, with two biscuits in each.
- The portioned format gives hosts a way to offer biscuits without putting the whole pack into a shared bowl.
- For a guest who needs milk-free food, check the physical pack for an explicit milk-free claim rather than relying on lactose-free wording.
Tesco Free From
Tesco lists a 125g Free From custard cream pack with gluten-free, milk-free and vegan claims.
- The listed claims address gluten and milk avoidance separately.
- For self-service, set biscuits from the standard pack out separately and use clean serving utensils.
Sainsbury’s Free From
Sainsbury’s lists a 125g milk- and gluten-free vanilla-flavour custard cream pack, with vegan suitability and nine stated servings.
- The stated servings offer a starting point for planning how many packs to buy.
- Check the current pack’s claims and serving information before the party.
ASDA Free From
ASDA lists a 125g Free From custard cream pack with gluten-free, milk-free and vegan claims.
- Its listed dietary claims differ from those of ASDA’s regular Custard Creams, which declare wheat and milk.
- Check that the pack picked up is the Free From product, not the regular one.
A Joybuy option for portioned serving
This gluten-free custard cream option is relevant if individually portioned biscuits would make serving at your Halloween party easier.
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Schär Gluten-Free Custard Creams 125g
For a self-serve snack table, the individually portioned format offers an alternative to leaving an open packet beside other biscuits. The listed 125g pack contains five portion packs of two biscuits. Keep it separate from gluten-containing food, and check the physical pack for any additional dietary claims your guests need.
Questions about choosing and serving
Can I serve regular custard creams to a gluten-free guest?
Do not assume regular custard creams are suitable. ASDA’s regular Custard Creams listing declares wheat; choose a specific product explicitly labelled gluten-free and check its current pack before serving.
Does gluten-free mean absolutely no gluten?
No. The Food Standards Agency’s gluten-free definition uses a limit of no more than 20 mg/kg, rather than absolute zero. Check the label on the pack you buy for its current ingredients and allergen advice.
How should I set out gluten-free custard creams at a Halloween buffet?
Keep them clearly identified and separate from gluten-containing snacks, with clean hands and dedicated or thoroughly cleaned utensils. Individual portion packs can limit handling before opening, but they do not remove the need for separation once biscuits are put out.
Are gluten-free custard creams also milk-free?
Not automatically. The Tesco, Sainsbury’s and ASDA Free From custard cream listings explicitly state milk-free alongside gluten-free; if a guest needs both, check those claims and the allergen information on the current pack.