Who these options suit

Gluten-free top-up shoppers

If you are replacing a familiar custard cream during a quick shop, look for an explicit gluten-free claim rather than assuming a standard biscuit is suitable.

Shoppers also avoiding milk

Tesco and Sainsbury’s list their Free From custard creams as both gluten free and milk free. Check the current pack for those claims and for any other ingredients you need to avoid.

Shoppers wanting separate portions

Schär’s 125g custard creams come in five portion packs, a format to consider if you want to carry a smaller sealed serving or open the pack across several occasions.

What to check when choosing

Start with the gluten-free claim and current ingredients label, then consider other dietary requirements, the retailer you are using and the pack format.

Priority What to check Your needs
Gluten-free identification Look for an explicit gluten-free claim and read the current ingredients and allergen label. If certification matters to you, check the pack for the Crossed Grain Symbol. I want a clear gluten-free claim, not just a wheat-free description. In Coeliac UK’s 2025 Shopping Habits survey of 3,785 responding members, 74.7% trusted its Crossed Grain Trademark more than a gluten-free statement; that measures trust, not custard-cream preference.
Other dietary requirements Check milk and any other relevant ingredients separately from gluten. Tesco and Sainsbury’s list their 125g Free From packs as milk free; Schär describes its custard creams as lactose free. If I also avoid milk, I need the current pack to meet that requirement. A lactose-free description alone is not a milk-free claim.
Immediate top-up Check the product at the retailer you are already using, and confirm local stock before relying on an online listing. I need an option I can pick up during this shop. Among the 3,785 members responding to Coeliac UK’s 2025 Shopping Habits survey, 38.4% were happy with the supermarket gluten-free range; that finding does not establish stock of any particular biscuit.
Portion format Compare a single 125g pack with Schär’s 125g pack divided into five portions. Check whether individually sealed servings fit how you will carry or use the biscuits. Separate portions would be useful if I am taking biscuits out with me. Coeliac UK reported that 70% of the 3,785 members responding to its 2025 Shopping Habits survey were dissatisfied with the quality of on-the-go gluten-free products; this was not a rating of these custard creams.

Shopping mistakes to avoid

  • Assuming a familiar custard cream is gluten free

    A familiar product name does not establish gluten-free suitability, and wheat free is not the same claim as gluten free.

    Choose a pack with an explicit gluten-free claim and read its current ingredients and allergen information.

  • Assuming every 125g pack is used the same way

    Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Schär have researched 125g listings, but Schär divides its biscuits into five portion packs.

    Check whether you want to open one packet or carry smaller sealed portions across several occasions.

  • Treating gluten free as a claim about every ingredient

    Gluten-free labelling does not establish milk-free, vegan or other allergen suitability. Lactose-free and milk-free descriptions should not be treated as interchangeable.

    Check each dietary requirement against the wording and ingredients on the current pack.

  • Relying on an older online ingredients list

    Tesco warns that food products can be reformulated, so a listing may not reflect the pack in your hand.

    Read the physical label when you buy, especially where an ingredient or allergen determines whether the biscuits suit your needs.

Relevant brands and ranges

Tesco Free From

An own-label custard cream to consider when topping up at Tesco.

  • Tesco lists its 125g pack as gluten free, milk free and suitable for vegans.
  • Tesco says food products can be reformulated, so check the current pack label.

Sainsbury’s Free From

An own-label option for a Sainsbury’s top-up when both gluten-free and milk-free labelling matter.

  • Sainsbury’s describes its 125g custard creams as gluten free, milk free and suitable for vegans.
  • Check the current ingredients and allergen label against your requirements before buying.

Schär

A portion-packed custard cream for shoppers who want smaller sealed servings.

  • The researched 125g Asda listing shows five portion packs and the Crossed Grain Symbol. Coeliac UK says products bearing its symbol undergo checks including gluten-analysis-certificate checks and independent manufacturing audits.
  • Schär describes this product as lactose free; check the current pack separately if you need a milk-free product.

Custard creams on Joybuy

This Schär option represents the individually portioned gluten-free custard cream route for a top-up shop.

Schär Gluten Free Custard Creams 125g pack

Schär Gluten Free Custard Creams 125g

For a top-up where separate servings are useful, this gluten-free 125g pack contains five portion packs. Schär describes the product as lactose free and vegan; check the current ingredients and allergen label if you also need to avoid milk or another ingredient.

View on Joybuy

Common questions

What does gluten free mean on a UK custard-cream pack?

For food sold with a gluten-free claim, the Food Standards Agency states a limit of no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten in the food as sold to the final consumer. Check the claim and the current pack rather than treating a wheat-free description alone as equivalent.

Does gluten free also mean milk free or vegan?

No. Tesco and Sainsbury’s list their Free From custard creams as milk free and suitable for vegans, while Schär describes its custard creams as lactose free and vegan. Check each requirement on the current pack; lactose free alone does not mean milk free.

What does the Crossed Grain Symbol add?

Coeliac UK says products bearing its Crossed Grain Trademark undergo extra checks, including checks of gluten analysis certificates and independent manufacturing audits. The symbol does not replace checking the pack for other ingredients or allergens that matter to you.

Should I use the supermarket webpage or the pack label?

Use a webpage to identify a possible product, but check the physical pack before buying or eating it. Product formulations can change, so the current ingredients and allergen information matter when choosing a gluten-free custard cream.