Custard cream

A British sandwich biscuit made of two crisp, patterned vanilla cookies joined by a sweet, vanilla buttercream filling.

Custard cream: A stack of rectangular custard cream sandwich biscuits with an ornate pressed pattern, one broken to show the vanilla filling
  • Traditional and regional desserts
  • United Kingdom

Custard creams are among the most popular biscuits in Britain and Ireland. The biscuits have an ornate pressed pattern on top, and the filling gets its flavor and pale yellow color from custard powder, a mix of cornstarch, flavoring and coloring.

At home, they are made from a simple vanilla shortbread-style dough, sometimes with custard powder in the dough too, filled with buttercream. They are usually served with tea, and many people pull them apart to eat the filling first.

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Sources

Written by VanillaGoods in our own words from these sources. Last reviewed October 15, 2026.

  1. Nutrient analysis survey of biscuits, buns, cakes and pastries, UK Department of Health (GOV.UK)
  2. Take the biscuit, UK Intellectual Property Office (GOV.UK blog)