Custard creams, Tunnock’s Teacakes and Wagon Wheels: A guide to The Great British Baking Show biscuits

Here's a guide to the biscuits shown on The Great British Baking Show, from the Tunnock's Teacake to the custard cream.

If you’re watching The Great British Bake Off in the United States and find yourself confused by the mentions of teacakes and Wagon Wheels, along with the technical challenge of custard creams and the biscuit’s iconic design, we can help explain.

Wagon Wheels

During week two of The Great British Baking Show, contestants were asked to create biscuits in the style of two of the UK’s most iconic snacks, though they’re not as common in the US.

The simpler of the two to explain is the humble Wagon Wheel. Formed of two biscuits which sandwich a layer of marshmallow filling with jam, then covered in a thin layer of chocolate, Wagon Wheels are essentially the same thing as the American Moon Pie.

They may also be familiar to US audiences from an earlier series of The Great British Baking Show, with Paul Hollywood challenging bakers to create the snack during the first technical challenge of Collection 6.

Teacakes

Teacakes are a little bit more complicated. English teacakes are sweet yeast-based rolls with dried fruits. However, as baker Nicky said: “There’s only one marshmallow biscuit, as far as I’m concerned, and it’s a Tunnock’s Teacake.”

Released in 1956 by Scottish company Tunnock’s, the Teacake consists of a small shortbread round which is covered by a dome of Italian meringue with the product then being encased in a chocolate shell.

The Tunnock's teacake. Image: David Pimborough/Adobe

The brand’s iconic silver and red foil packaging has even inspired artwork and souvenirs for the country, and is such a staple of Scotland that during the 2014 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony dancers dressed as the teacakes.

Many contestants who decided to go with a teacake inspired bake used round moulds to mimic the biscuit’s shape and they could be compared to the Whippet or Mallomars products in Canada and the United States.

Custard creams

While store-bought custard creams may not be good enough for Prue Leith, who tasked bakers with creating their own versions, they’re plenty good enough for the British public.

The custard cream is a sandwich biscuit filled with a creamy, custard-flavoured filling and you’re likely to find a packet of them in most UK homes.

For those unable to find the biscuits – sorry, cookies – in the US, Prue’s recipe is now available, but good luck trying to find the custard cream stamp like the bakers used in the tent.