Who is each option for?

Shoppers choosing a classic custard cream

If the familiar biscuit format matters more than a sugar-free label, check the standard pack rather than assuming it meets both aims. Tesco Groceries lists 28.3g sugars per 100g for its 400g custard creams.

Shoppers looking for a sugar-free cream biscuit

A cocoa-and-vanilla sandwich biscuit may suit someone willing to change biscuit format. Diablo lists 0.4g sugars per 100g for its 44g product and identifies maltitol as a sweetener.

Shoppers avoiding gluten or milk

Tesco and Sainsbury's label their Free From custard creams gluten-free and milk-free. Their nutrition panels list 19.9g and 24.9g sugars per 100g respectively, so those exclusions do not answer a sugar-free requirement.

What should you check?

Start with the sugars figure and biscuit format, then check pack size and ingredients against what matters for your shop.

Priority What to check Your needs
Sugars Read sugars per 100g, not just the product name. Diablo lists 0.4g per 100g for its 44g cocoa-and-vanilla biscuit; Tesco Groceries lists 28.3g per 100g for standard custard creams. I want to distinguish a sugar-free cream biscuit from a traditional custard cream before choosing.
Pack size Compare the stated weights: the referenced Tesco standard pack is 400g, Tesco Free From is 125g, and Diablo's manufacturer information covers a 44g pack. For a budget shop, I want a pack size that suits how many biscuits I plan to buy.
Dietary exclusions Read each product's allergen statement. Diablo lists wheat, milk and soya; Tesco and Sainsbury's label their Free From custard creams gluten-free and milk-free. If I avoid gluten or milk, that need matters separately from whether a biscuit is sugar-free.
Biscuit format Check whether the biscuit is a traditional custard cream or a dark-cocoa sandwich biscuit with vanilla filling. The Diablo product is the latter. I want to know if changing the sugars profile also means choosing a different biscuit flavour.
Sweeteners Read the ingredients and any pack warnings. Diablo lists maltitol and 17g polyols per 100g for its 44g biscuit. If I choose a sweetened alternative, I want to check what is in it as well as its sugars figure.

Common buying mistakes

  • Reading “Free From” as “sugar-free”

    Gluten-free and milk-free describe different exclusions. Tesco Groceries lists 19.9g sugars per 100g for Tesco Free From Custard Creams, while Sainsbury's lists 24.9g per 100g for its version.

    Check the “of which sugars” line per 100g if sugars are the deciding factor.

  • Comparing packs without checking their weights

    A 125g Free From pack and a 400g standard pack contain different amounts of biscuit, so the pack alone does not show how much you are buying.

    Check the weight alongside the nutrition panel before choosing a pack for your shop.

  • Assuming sugar-free means free from allergens

    Diablo lists wheat, milk and soya in its 44g sugar-free cocoa-and-vanilla biscuit. It also lists maltitol and 17g polyols per 100g.

    Read the ingredient and allergen statements, along with any sweetener warnings on the pack.

  • Expecting cocoa biscuits to taste like custard creams

    Diablo describes a dark-cocoa sandwich biscuit with vanilla filling, rather than a traditional custard cream.

    Decide whether the sugar-free label or the classic biscuit format matters more to you before switching.

Relevant brand references

Diablo

A cocoa-and-vanilla cream-sandwich biscuit to consider when the sugar-free label matters more than matching a classic custard cream.

  • Diablo lists 0.4g sugars and 17g polyols per 100g for its 44g biscuit.
  • The 44g product contains wheat, milk and soya, and its cocoa biscuit is a different format from a traditional custard cream.

Tesco

Standard and Free From custard creams address different shopping needs.

  • Tesco labels its Free From Custard Creams gluten-free, milk-free and suitable for vegans.
  • Tesco Groceries lists 28.3g sugars per 100g for the standard biscuits and 19.9g per 100g for the Free From version.

Sainsbury's

Its Free From custard creams are labelled milk-free and gluten-free.

  • The product offers a custard-cream format for shoppers checking those exclusions.
  • Sainsbury's lists 24.9g sugars per 100g, so the Free From description should not be read as sugar-free.

M&S

Extra Cream Custard Creams are a traditional-style reference, not a sugar-free alternative.

  • M&S describes vanilla cream filling and real custard powder in this product.
  • Its nutrition information lists 40.2g sugars per 100g.

McVitie's

Tasties Custard Creams provide another classic custard-cream reference.

  • Joybuy's product information lists 30.6g sugars per 100g for the 300g pack, so it is not a sugar-free choice.

Joybuy product options

This Oreo cream-sandwich biscuit is an option for shoppers considering a sugar-free biscuit instead of a traditional custard cream. Check its pack details against your sugars and ingredient requirements.

Oreo Zero Sugar Sandwich Cookies 97g

Oreo Zero Sugar Sandwich Cookies 97g

The 97g pack offers a cream-sandwich biscuit rather than a traditional custard cream. Check the per-100g nutrition panel, sweetener information and allergen statement before deciding whether it meets your requirements.

View on Joybuy

Questions about the labels

Does “Free From Custard Creams” mean sugar-free?

No. Tesco and Sainsbury's describe their Free From custard creams as gluten-free and milk-free, while their nutrition panels list 19.9g and 24.9g sugars per 100g respectively. Check sugars separately from dietary-exclusion labels.

Is a sugar-free cream biscuit the same as a custard cream?

Not necessarily. Diablo's 44g dark-cocoa biscuit has vanilla filling and lists 0.4g sugars per 100g, according to Diablo, but it is not a traditional custard cream. Check the biscuit description as well as the nutrition panel if the classic format matters to you.

What should I check on a maltitol-sweetened biscuit?

Read the ingredients, allergens and pack warnings. Diablo lists maltitol, 17g polyols per 100g, and wheat, milk and soya for its 44g cocoa-and-vanilla biscuit.

Does a gluten-free custard cream count as sugar-free?

No: gluten-free does not describe the sugars content. If you are considering a gluten-free custard cream such as the Schär product listed by Joybuy, check its per-100g sugars on the pack rather than relying on the gluten-free description.