Bakers with a strict sugar-free requirement
If the finished bake must use a sugar-free biscuit, do not assume an ordinary or Free From bourbon biscuit qualifies. Check the sugars figure on the exact product you plan to use.
Who is choosing?
Hosts avoiding gluten or milk
Tesco and Sainsbury's list Free From Bourbon Creams with gluten-free and milk-free labelling. Check the current pack against each guest's requirements; these labels do not mean the biscuits are sugar-free.
Christmas dessert makers
If the biscuit will form a visible layer or hold a filling, its size matters alongside the ingredients. M&S describes its Giant Bourbon Biscuits as a format for filling with chocolate ice cream.
What should you check?
Start with the requirement that cannot be compromised, then check whether the biscuit's size and serving information work for the dessert you have planned.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar-free requirement | Read the exact pack's sugars per 100g and ingredients. Tesco Groceries lists 19.5g sugars per 100g for its Free From Bourbon Creams; Sainsbury's lists 24.3g per 100g for its Free From version. | I need a biscuit that meets a strict sugar-free requirement, not one whose Free From label refers to gluten or milk. |
| Allergens | Check the ingredients and precautionary statements on the current pack. Tesco and Sainsbury's label their respective Free From Bourbon Creams gluten-free and milk-free; that does not establish suitability for every other allergy. | For a guest avoiding gluten or milk, I need the specific biscuit and the completed dessert to suit their requirements. |
| Serving size | Compare nutrition information on the same basis, such as per 100g or per biscuit. Count the biscuits, filling and toppings in the portion you will serve. | I'd like to know what goes into each serving, particularly when biscuit crumbs or a filling make the portion less obvious. |
| Dessert format | Check biscuit dimensions against the planned filling or layer. M&S describes Giant Bourbon Biscuits as intended for filling with chocolate ice cream; check their current nutrition and allergen label too. | A larger biscuit would suit the ice cream sandwich I'm assembling, but its format cannot take the place of my dietary checks. |
Common buying mistakes
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Reading “Free From” as “sugar-free”
Tesco Groceries and Sainsbury's list sugars in their respective Free From Bourbon Creams. The gluten-free and milk-free descriptions address different requirements.
Check the sugars-per-100g figure on the exact pack before choosing a biscuit for a sugar-free bake.
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Checking only the biscuit, not the whole serving
A Christmas dessert may also contain filling, toppings or a crumb layer, changing what goes into each portion.
Decide how many biscuits and how much of each other ingredient you will use per serving, then consult their labels.
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Assuming one dietary label covers every allergy
A gluten-free or milk-free label does not answer questions about other ingredients or precautionary allergen statements.
Read the current pack for every ingredient and allergen relevant to your guests before assembling the dessert.
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Choosing a giant biscuit on appearance alone
M&S positions its Giant Bourbon Biscuits for an ice cream filling, but a larger format also changes the amount of biscuit in a serving.
Plan the serving size and check the pack's per-100g and per-biscuit information where available.
Relevant brand ranges
Tesco
Tesco lists both standard Bourbon Creams and a separate Free From version.
- Tesco Groceries labels its Free From Bourbon Creams gluten-free and milk-free.
- The Free From version lists 19.5g sugars per 100g; its dietary labels do not mean sugar-free.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's lists conventional Bourbon biscuits and a Free From Bourbon Creams alternative.
- The Free From version is described as gluten-free and milk-free.
- Sainsbury's lists 24.3g sugars per 100g for that version, so it is not a sugar-free alternative.
Waitrose
Waitrose lists Essential Bourbon Creams as a conventional sandwich biscuit.
- Waitrose & Partners lists sugar, glucose syrup and dextrose among its ingredients, as well as wheat flour.
M&S
M&S lists Extra Cream Bourbon Creams and Giant Bourbon Biscuits, with the giant format described for filling with chocolate ice cream.
- The giant format offers a biscuit intended for a filled dessert.
- M&S lists sugars for both products; a larger baking format is not a sugar-free option.
Joybuy product options
The Joybuy option shown is a sandwich cookie to consider when a bourbon biscuit is not essential to the Christmas dessert. Check the pack against any strict sugar-free or allergen requirement.
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Oreo Zero Sugar Sandwich Cookies, 97g
This sandwich cookie is an alternative format to consider if your dessert does not require a bourbon biscuit. The pack is 97g; check its current sugars-per-100g figure, sweetener information and wheat and soya allergen statements before serving.
Questions about baking with bourbon biscuits
Are Tesco or Sainsbury's Free From Bourbon Creams sugar-free?
No. Tesco Groceries lists 19.5g sugars per 100g for its Free From Bourbon Creams, while Sainsbury's lists 24.3g per 100g for its version. Their Free From descriptions refer to gluten and milk.
How should I check carbohydrate when using biscuits in a dessert?
Use the exact pack's carbohydrate and serving information, then account for the number of biscuits and other ingredients in the portion. Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust advises referring to food labels when counting carbohydrate.
Which bourbon biscuit format works for an ice cream sandwich?
M&S describes its Giant Bourbon Biscuits as intended for filling with chocolate ice cream. Choose that format only if its current ingredients, allergen information and serving size suit the dessert; it is not a sugar-free biscuit.
Should I check the pack if the online listing looks suitable?
Yes. Read the current pack before baking or serving, particularly for sugars, gluten, milk and precautionary allergen statements. Product information can change, so the listing should not replace the label on the biscuit you use.