Hosts serving a gluten-free guest
Look for a clearly labelled gluten-free option to put out with coffee, and check the supplied pack before serving. The Jaffa Cake name alone does not establish whether a product is suitable.
Who is this for?
Shoppers seeking a Jaffa-style treat
If the orange filling, sponge and chocolate format matters, check that the particular product carries a gluten-free claim. Tesco describes Schär Gluten-Free Jaffa Cakes as having an orange filling and a gluten- and wheat-free sponge base.
Hosts offering both kinds of snack
Standard and gluten-free cakes can be served at the same gathering, but keep the gluten-free option away from wheat-containing crumbs and shared serving equipment. Coeliac UK advises clean surfaces and utensils to help prevent cross-contamination.
What should you check?
Check the gluten-free claim first, then confirm that the product and your serving arrangements work for the gathering.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free assurance | Look for an explicit gluten-free claim on the supplied pack; read its ingredients and allergen information. The Food Standards Agency defines gluten-free as no more than 20 mg/kg gluten in food sold to the final consumer. | I need a clear claim for my guest, not an assumption based on the cake's name. In Coeliac UK's 2025 shopping survey of 3,785 responding members, 74.7% said they trusted its Crossed Grain Trademark; that finding describes those respondents, not all shoppers. |
| Finding the product | Check the current retailer listing, stock at the store you intend to use and the pack size before planning the spread. Tesco and Sainsbury's have listed Schär's 150g product. | I want to settle on an option I can obtain before friends arrive. In the same Coeliac UK member survey, 38.4% of respondents said they were happy with the range of gluten-free products in supermarkets; that measures satisfaction with the wider range, not Jaffa Cake availability. |
| Jaffa-style format | Check the product description for sponge, orange filling and chocolate if those features matter. A gluten-free macaroon or brownie is a different type of coffee-time snack. | For this gathering, I'd like an orange-and-chocolate cake rather than simply any gluten-free sweet option. |
| Serving separately | Use a separate plate and clean utensils for the gluten-free cakes. Keep shared spreads and wheat-containing crumbs away from them, as Coeliac UK advises for cross-contamination. | If I put out ordinary cakes too, I need guests to be able to tell the options apart and take the gluten-free one without using crumb-covered equipment. |
Serving and shopping pitfalls
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Assuming every Jaffa Cake is gluten-free
Tesco lists wheat flour and wholemeal wheat flour in the checked McVitie's product, while M&S lists wheatflour and wheat starch in its Dark Chocolate Jaffa Cakes. A similar appearance does not make those products interchangeable with a gluten-free option.
Check for an explicit gluten-free claim, then read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you will serve.
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Sharing crumb-covered serving equipment
Contact with crumbs from standard cakes can compromise a gluten-free serving. Coeliac UK advises cleaning surfaces and utensils and keeping condiments separate where crumbs could be transferred.
Put the gluten-free cakes on a separate plate and provide clean utensils before setting out the other snacks.
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Relying on an earlier stock listing
A product listing does not establish that a pack will be available when you shop. Tesco marked Kelkin Gluten Free Jaffa Cakes out of stock when the listing was checked.
Check current stock before the gathering, and recheck the gluten-free claim if you choose a different product.
Relevant brand references
Schär
Tesco describes Schär Gluten-Free Jaffa Cakes 150g as gluten- and wheat-free, with an orange filling; Sainsbury's has also listed the product.
- A labelled gluten-free Jaffa-style option for shoppers who want the orange-and-chocolate format.
- Check current stock and the ingredients and allergens on the pack supplied before serving.
Kelkin
Tesco has listed Kelkin Gluten Free Jaffa Cakes 150g as a gluten- and wheat-free option.
- Another Jaffa-style product to consider if its gluten-free claim and current stock are confirmed.
- Tesco marked the checked listing out of stock; confirm availability before planning to serve it.
McVitie's
The checked McVitie's product is a wheat-containing comparison, not the gluten-free option for this gathering.
- Tesco lists wheat flour and wholemeal wheat flour in that product. Do not substitute it for a cake a gluten-free guest can eat.
M&S
The checked M&S Dark Chocolate Jaffa Cakes belong with the standard snacks, not the gluten-free serving.
- M&S lists wheatflour and wheat starch in this product and advises reading the current product label.
Joybuy snack options
These are gluten-free snack alternatives for coffee with friends, not Jaffa-style cakes. Check the supplied pack's gluten-free claim and allergen information before offering either to a guest.
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Mrs Crimble's Gluten Free 6 Big Choc Macaroons
A gluten-free macaroon option to serve with coffee, but not a substitute for the orange-filled Jaffa-style cake in this buying question. Check the pack's allergen information if guests also avoid egg, soya, milk or nuts.
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Morrisons Free From Chocolate Chip Brownies 112g
A chocolate brownie for the coffee table rather than an orange-filled Jaffa-style cake. Confirm the gluten-free wording on the supplied pack and check its allergen information, particularly if guests avoid egg or nuts.
Questions before serving
What does gluten-free mean on a UK food label?
The Food Standards Agency defines gluten-free as no more than 20 mg/kg gluten in food sold to the final consumer. For a guest who needs a gluten-free snack, look for that explicit claim rather than treating the words “Jaffa Cake” or “wheat-free” alone as sufficient.
Can gluten-free and ordinary Jaffa Cakes go on the same table?
Yes, provided the gluten-free serving is kept away from crumbs and shared utensils. Use a separate plate and clean equipment; Coeliac UK also advises clean surfaces and separate condiments where crumbs could be transferred.
Are the checked McVitie's and M&S cakes gluten-free options?
No: the checked McVitie's product lists wheat flour and wholemeal wheat flour, and M&S Dark Chocolate Jaffa Cakes list wheatflour and wheat starch. Neither should replace an explicitly gluten-free product for a guest who needs one.
Why read the pack after checking a product listing?
The supplied pack is the one you will serve, and its ingredients and allergen information need to match your guest's requirements. M&S notes that products can be redeveloped and advises reading the product label; Coeliac UK advises checking the ingredients list for emphasised cereals containing gluten.