Anchor Butter Feedback Thread - see what Mumsnetters created with Anchor butter PLUS chance for non testers to win £250! NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

This is the feedback thread for the 250 Mumsnetters who have been trying out Anchor butter and the baking kits with their children. Non testers - do check out the feedback from the testers PLUS what's your favourite flavour cake? Chocolate, Victoria Sponge, Carrot, something else? Add your comment to this thread and you'll be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £250 voucher to spend in John Lewis (imagine all the baking kit you could get!)

Here's what Anchor says: “We're looking forward to seeing what MNers have created with our rich and creamy block butter. We know it's perfect for all types of tasty bakes, whether it's making the pastry for your homemade chicken pie, or millionaires shortbread for that weekend treat with the kids. At Anchor we've been making block butter for over 125 years, to bring bakers high quality, rich and creamy butter for their bakes."

Plenty of recipe ideas here – including delicious
ginger biscuits or does anyone fancy
Cheese Scones for a snack?

Below are the questions we'd like testers to answer, but please feel free to add your own comments too.

1. What bakes did you and your DC create? Please post a photo or two on the thread of the finished result or of the baking session!
   
   
2. What was your child’s favourite aspect of the baking process? Getting messy, licking the bowl at the end or anything in between!
   
   
3. What was your favourite aspect of baking with your DC?
   
   
4. If you don't normally use Anchor, do you think that your bakes taste different when using Anchor butter compared to your normal butter? Please explain.
   
   
5. Do you normally use butter or margarine for baking? Do you usually use unsalted or salted butter for baking? How aware were you that using unsalted butter is great for baking?
   
   
6. Were you pleased with the results of your baking?
   
   
7. Would you use Anchor butter again for your baking? Why? Were you aware Anchor was the original block butter company having made butter for over 125 years? Is this important to you?
   
   
8. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Anchor butter to friends and family? Why?
   
   All testers who leaves their feedback on this thread and who complete the survey (emailed to testers) will be entered in to a prize draw, where one lucky Mumsnet tester will win a £300 John Lewis voucher.
   
   Thanks and good luck!
   MNHQ
   
   Closing date: Friday 8th May at 9am

[MimsyBorogroves]

Non-tester here.

Chocolate cake is, of course my favourite, although I'm partial to a Victoria sponge too. Never seen the point of carrot cake. Doesn't that make it healthy?

[wasfield]

My DC decided to make shortbread as it is her favourite biscuit.
Her favourite part of the baking was eating the uncooked mix of Anchor butter, sugar and flour while mixing the together in her smart red bowl.
I enjoyed seeing her happy and having fun.
I am more likely to use the cheapest butter I can find for baking but I have to admit that Anchor was really creamy and easy cream with the sugar and the taste was lovely. I would use it again as I did think the flavour was nicer and the texture softer.
The biscuits came out beautifully and got wolfed down very quickly.
I would use it again and I was not aware of how long it has been around. They must have perfected the art of making butter after so many years!
I would recommend it as I did find the butter tasty and very easy to use in cooking as I have already said it was very creamy and easy to mix.

[BornToFolk]

1) What bakes did you and your DC create? Please post a photo or two on the thread of the finished result or of the baking session!

DS (7) and I made Cinnamon and Pecan brownies (with additional raisins and white chocolate buttons!)

I hope the photos work!

2) What was your childs favourite aspect of the baking process? Getting messy, licking the bowl at the end or anything in between!

Licking the bowl is always the favourite bit! DS also enjoyed chopping the pecans and chocolate buttons as well as being official "tester" and trying a bit of all the ingredients as he went...

3) What was your favourite aspect of baking with your DC?

I just enjoy spending a bit of time with DS doing something fun. It's also great to see his skills develop, for example he can now crack and separate eggs really well.

4) If you don't normally use Anchor, do you think that your bakes taste different when using Anchor butter compared to your normal butter? Please explain.

I normally use Tesco own brand butter in my baking but to be honest, I couldn't taste any difference with Anchor - sorry!

6) Do you normally use butter or margarine for baking? Do you usually use unsalted or salted butter for baking? How aware were you that using unsalted butter is great for baking?

Butter! Butter tastes better IMHO. I usually use salted butter as that's what I have on hand.

7) Were you pleased with the results of your baking?

Fairly! They were a little overdone but still really tasty.

8) Would you use Anchor butter again for your baking? Why? Were you aware Anchor was the original block butter company having made butter for over 125 years? Is this important to you?

I would, but probably not in preference to other brands. Butter is butter to me, I can't really taste any difference and so would probably just buy the cheapest brand.

9) If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Anchor butter to friends and family? Why?

Not particularly, for the reasons given above.

[StillNoFuckingEyeDeer]

1. What bakes did you and your DC create? Please post a photo or two on the thread of the finished result or of the baking session!
   
   We made chocolate cake (which I didn't get a chance to photograph when it was finished because it was being eaten before I even realised.) and biscuits (which DD1 decided had to be snowmen and Christmas trees and she was going to keep them until Christmas. I haven't told her that DH finished the lot of them later that evening).
   
   
2. What was your child’s favourite aspect of the baking process? Getting messy, licking the bowl at the end or anything in between!
   
   She loved all of it - weighing out, being in charge of mixing, breaking eggs, cutting out biscuits, decorating with smarties, even washing up. Her favourite bit was licking the spoon while making the chocolate cake.
   
   
3. What was your favourite aspect of baking with your DC?
   
   Seeing her enjoying herself. Letting her do the mixing - it really made a difference having a smaller bowl and spoon. We didn't have anything nearly as easy for her to use before.
   
   
4. If you don't normally use Anchor, do you think that your bakes taste different when using Anchor butter compared to your normal butter? Please explain.
   
   I don't think it made much difference compared to any other butter by the time it was in a chocolate cake/biscuits. You might taste a difference when it's spread on toast or something.
   
   
5. Do you normally use butter or margarine for baking? Do you usually use unsalted or salted butter for baking? How aware were you that using unsalted butter is great for baking?
   
   Always use unsalted butter for baking.
   
   
6. Were you pleased with the results of your baking?
   
   Very.
   
   
7. Would you use Anchor butter again for your baking? Why? Were you aware Anchor was the original block butter company having made butter for over 125 years? Is this important to you?
   
   I would. It was lovely butter. I was aware that anchor has been around for over 125 years, but that's not really important to me.
   I wouldn't necessarily chose it over any other unsalted butter. I normally buy whatever is on offer.
   
   
8. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Anchor butter to friends and family? Why?
   
   I'd recommend it, but not necessarily above any other butter for baking.

[DharmaBumpkin]

Tester here... Place marking for the weekend :)

[GingerTum]

1) What bakes did you and your DC create? Please post a photo or two on the thread of the finished result or of the baking session!

We made a strawberry milkshake cake .

2) What was your child’s favourite aspect of the baking process? Getting messy, licking the bowl at the end or anything in between!

She loved all of it, from weighing out to cracking the eggs and then licking the spoon and bowl at the end (especially using her new spoon and bowl send in the package).

3) What was your favourite aspect of baking with your DC?

We bake quite often together and I love to see her enjoying herself and concentrating hard on the weighing or mixing.

4) If you don't normally use Anchor, do you think that your bakes taste different when using Anchor butter compared to your normal butter? Please explain.

I usually use the own brand 'best for baking butter' for the actual bake (as its cheaper) and save the more expensive butter for buttercream. I have to say that the cake didn't taste any different from my usual baking butter, but the buttercream was lovely and creamy and the texture seemed to mix with the icing sugar faster than normal.

6) Do you normally use butter or margarine for baking? Do you usually use unsalted or salted butter for baking? How aware were you that using unsalted butter is great for baking?

As above, I usually use baking butter which is unsalted but would still use salted if it was all I had.

7) Were you pleased with the results of your baking?

Yes

8) Would you use Anchor butter again for your baking? Why? Were you aware Anchor was the original block butter company having made butter for over 125 years? Is this important to you?

I would if it was on offer as at £1.70 a block it's almost 3 times more expensive than what I usually use, however for a special occasion cake I would be willing to spend the extra for the creamy taste in the buttercream.

9) If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Anchor butter to friends and family? Why?

Yes, I thought it gave the buttercream a lovely taste.

[Rhumba]

Hi Still haven't got my pack. They tried to deliver Friday and Monday when I was away on hols. Got back today and called the courier to be told it has been sent back to the sender as they couldn't deliver! any help Mumsnet??

[JennyWreny]

Thanks Mumsnet and Anchor for letting me take part in the test. I looked after my niece for a day and she loves baking!

1) What bakes did you and your DC create? Please post a photo or two on the thread of the finished result or of the baking session!

We made Cheese Straws (or cheese sticks as she called them). With all of the chocolate/sweets over Easter we thought something savoury would be nice.


2) What was your child’s favourite aspect of the baking process? Getting messy, licking the bowl at the end or anything in between!

She really liked using the cookie cutters to make cheese shapes (we made some long thin traditional ones and some shapes).


3) What was your favourite aspect of baking with your DC?

It’s nice to see children enjoying baking. She really enjoyed the tasting too!

4) If you don't normally use Anchor, do you think that your bakes taste different when using Anchor butter compared to your normal butter? Please explain.

I used a new recipe, so not really sure if it would be better than the butter I usually use, but it did taste really good.


6) Do you normally use butter or margarine for baking? Do you usually use unsalted or salted butter for baking? How aware were you that using unsalted butter is great for baking?

I almost always use unsalted butter for baking.

7) Were you pleased with the results of your baking?

Very pleased, they soon disappeared.

8) Would you use Anchor butter again for your baking? Why? Were you aware Anchor was the original block butter company having made butter for over 125 years? Is this important to you?

Yes I would use Anchor again, especially if it was on offer.


9) If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Anchor butter to friends and family? Why?

Yes, I would recommend it. It has a good taste.

[kungfupidge]

1. What bakes did you and your DC create?
   
   We made fairy cakes with buttercream icing and a chocolate star on the top !
   
   
2. What was your child’s favourite aspect of the baking process?
   
   my little lad hasn't been well hes had Scarlett fever over the last week or so, so this was a chance to do something fun that was inside the house, we loved getting messy, and watching the icing sugar dissolve into the butter and of course the cakes at the end...... yumm !
   
   
3. What was your favourite aspect of baking with your DC?
   
   it had to be the fact that hed not been well, and this was a way to still stay at home while doing something he enjoys apart from you know watching a dvd, plus its always lovely making memories i always remember baking cakes with my mum and sister so its nice to think maybe thats how he will remember our times baking !
   
   
   
4. If you don't normally use Anchor, do you think that your bakes taste different when using Anchor butter compared to your normal butter? Please explain.
   
   i already use anchor butter and i always will ! the reason being its of good value and there is no other that tastes as good not for me anyway a good quality butter makes a good quality cake !
   
   
5. Do you normally use butter or margarine for baking? Do you usually use unsalted or salted butter for baking? How aware were you that using unsalted butter is great for baking?
   
   i always use butter unless the recipe calls for margarine specifically when i do use butter i do tend to go towards unsalted just because i don't want the kids have to much salt, however i love salted anchor butter on toast delicious. i was aware of using butter in baking theres nothing as good in our house.
   
   
6. Were you pleased with the results of your baking?
   YES ! are little fairy cakes were very yummy in fact so yummy we couldnt wait for my camera to charge when me my husband and the kids scoffed them all so didn't get an after photo !
   
   
7. Would you use Anchor butter again for your baking? Why? Were you aware Anchor was the original block butter company having made butter for over 125 years? Is this important to you?
   
   i would definitely use anchor again as said previously we love this stuff in our house, i honestly did not know they were the original company but knowing this only makes me trust this brand even more, and i think it is important to have a brand as good as anchor stay strong for so long it inspires faith in its consumers and i think your liable to appreciate and trust the product more for having been around so long.
   
   
8. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Anchor butter to friends and family? Why?
   
   this is a no brainer for me ! YES ! i love anchor butter that smooth melt in your mouth creamy taste its a firm favorite and i would not only recommend to friends and family i would recommend to anyone, its a delight to use in baking and really does make a difference to the over all taste of a recipe.

[WowOoo]

non tester
My favourite cake is chocolate - preferably with a rich, moist one with chocolate buttercream. I make them to share or I'd eat the lot myself.

[elizaco]

1. We made a lovely chocolate cake - photo below. My daughter also used Anchor butter to make rhubarb crumble at her after-school Pudding Club.
   
   
2. She loved the whole experience. As she has got older she likes and needs less input from me - she likes to be independent!
   
   
3. I like to see how her confidence and skills are getting better and better with baking.
   
   4/6) We tend to use marg rather than butter normally when baking. It was nice to have that proper buttery taste though. Still find marg easier to use though, being softer.
   
   
4. Really pleased with results - both taste and appearance.
   
   
5. Probably will use again. Didn't realise what a long history it had.
   
   
6. Yes, I would!

[AnneOfCleavage]

1. What bakes did you and your DC create? Please post a photo or two on the thread of the finished result or of the baking session!
   DD (10) baked chocolate brownies - sorry no photo's I'm afraid
   
   
2. What was your child’s favourite aspect of the baking process? Getting messy, licking the bowl at the end or anything in between!
   Breaking up the chocolate and stealing pieces and the licking of the pan at the end.
   
   
3. What was your favourite aspect of baking with your DC?
   The fun and the closeness. It's our special time together.
   
   
4. If you don't normally use Anchor, do you think that your bakes taste different when using Anchor butter compared to your normal butter? Please explain.
   I use whatever butter is on offer when I shop but I had the best comments about these brownies when relatives came for afternoon tea so will use Anchor again.
   
   
5. Do you normally use butter or margarine for baking? Do you usually use unsalted or salted butter for baking? How aware were you that using unsalted butter is great for baking?
   I use Stork for cake baking and Butter for recipes that require butter. I use unsalted Butter when I do use it but for some unearthly reason I picked up Salted this time so had to use that but I didn't find any difference to be honest. I didn't know that unsalted was particularly good for baking but as that is what I usually buy I will continue to do so.
   
   
   
6. Were you pleased with the results of your baking?
   Oh yes, the plate was gone in 2 days flat.
   
   
7. Would you use Anchor butter again for your baking? Why? Were you aware Anchor was the original block butter company having made butter for over 125 years? Is this important to you?
   Yes I would use Anchor again but probably only if it was on offer. I was aware that Anchor has been around for the longest but not that long - wow 125 years!!
   
   
8. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Anchor butter to friends and family? Why?
   I'm not sure I would recommend it over any other butter to be honest as it is a lot pricier but if someone was baking a particularly special recipe that required butter then I would always recommend the best ingredients that you can afford so perhaps save money on ingredients like flour that probably wouldn't make a big difference to be able to afford Anchor.

[Candyperfumegirl]

1. What bakes did you and your DC create? Please post a photo or two on the thread of the finished result or of the baking session!
   
   We made Nutella Fairy Cupcakes. Photos posted.
   
   
2. What was your child’s favourite aspect of the baking process? Getting messy, licking the bowl at the end or anything in between!
   
   My DC enjoyed going shopping for all the ingredients, we checked what ingredients we already had then we made a shopping list for the rest, we took a walk to the local sainsburys specifically for our baking needs. My DC loves baking and so enjoyed the whole experience, she particularily liked decorating the cakes after with the flower wafers & chocolate stars she had chosen in the shop.
   
   
3. What was your favourite aspect of baking with your DC?
   
   Just had a baby boy on Saturday, so my favourite aspect of baking had to be spending some quality time with my little girl. Also, enjoyed teaching her about weighing out the ingredients with the scales.
   
   
4. If you don't normally use Anchor, do you think that your bakes taste different when using Anchor butter compared to your normal butter? Please explain.
   
   When it comes to baking I tend to use whatever is on offer or cheapest, i have probably used Anchor at some point before. To be honest, I didnt notice much of a difference with Anchor than any other butter.
   
   
5. Do you normally use butter or margarine for baking? Do you usually use unsalted or salted butter for baking? How aware were you that using unsalted butter is great for baking?
   
   I usually use unsalted butter for baking. I wasnt aware that unsalted butter is better for baking.
   
   
6. Were you pleased with the results of your baking?
   
   Yes, they were very yummy and we had lots of fun making them.
   
   
7. Would you use Anchor butter again for your baking? Why? Were you aware Anchor was the original block butter company having made butter for over 125 years? Is this important to you?
   
   Sure, I would use Anchor butter again for baking, particularily if it was on offer at the time although I doubt I would seek it out above any other brand. I knew Anchor had been around for a long time but 125 years is quite impressive, but its not really all that important to me.
   
   
8. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Anchor butter to friends and family? Why?
   
   I would probably mention that I had used Anchor in my baking and been happy with the results, but I probably wouldnt recommend it above any other butter for baking.

[BankWadger]

Non tester because I refuse to buy anchor any more. It was a NZ brand (grew up with it), it was introduced to the UK as such (remember the free range cows?), it was then very quietly switched to UK milk.

Had Arla been open and honest about this switch I'd have less of a problem. But they weren't and it feels akin to false advertising as for a long time I still believed I was buying a certain product, when actually I wasn't.

[silky80]

Hi we made, shortcake biscuits and had with strawberries and cream.
licking the bowl and weighing the ingredients are the best bits.
spending time together and seeing a great end result. Anchor is my favourite but tend to use clover for cooking. Not sure why.
yes I. D use it again and definitely recommend to friends. Love a yummy treat at the end. Thanks for the pack.

[mindmoodmommy]

1. What bakes did you and your DC create? Please post a photo or two on the thread of the finished result or of the baking session!
   
   My daughter and I love baking! We made a giant cookie pizza!
   
   
2. What was your child’s favourite aspect of the baking process? Getting messy, licking the bowl at the end or anything in between!
   
   Her favourite part is always licking the bowl and 'sampling' the toppings!
   
   
3. What was your favourite aspect of baking with your DC?
   
   My favourite part of baking with her is watching her learn and seeing the delight on her face when something she has either made or helped to make turns out. It's such a great thing to see.
   
   
4. If you don't normally use Anchor, do you think that your bakes taste different when using Anchor butter compared to your normal butter? Please explain.
   
   Anchor butter certainly is creamier than some of the other butters I've used. This makes for a richer flavour overall.
   
   
5. Do you normally use butter or margarine for baking? Do you usually use unsalted or salted butter for baking? How aware were you that using unsalted butter is great for baking?
   
   I HATE margarine, it tastes vile. I always use butter for baking. I use unsalted in my cakes and always salted for buttercream- it counteracts the sweetness of the icing sugar! Gives more of a balanced flavour.
   
   
6. Were you pleased with the results of your baking?
   
   I think the cookie pizza turned out great, and my daughter certainly enjoyed it!
   
   
7. Would you use Anchor butter again for your baking? Why? Were you aware Anchor was the original block butter company having made butter for over 125 years? Is this important to you?
   
   I would certainly use Anchor butter again. Perhaps not for everyday baking as it's more expensive than other butters, but definitely for those special cakes. I think the fact that they have been making butter for so long gives them the experience to create that ultra-creamy taste.
   
   
8. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Anchor butter to friends and family? Why?
   
   I would recommend Anchor butter to family and friends. It does taste more superior to other butters.

[couldntbebothered]

1. What bakes did you and your DC create? Please post a photo or two on the thread of the finished result or of the baking session!
   
   Smartie cookies
   
   
2. What was your child’s favourite aspect of the baking process? Getting messy, licking the bowl at the end or anything in between!
   
   Doing most of it independently
   
   
3. What was your favourite aspect of baking with your DC?
   
   Fun thing to do together
   
   
4. If you don't normally use Anchor, do you think that your bakes taste different when using Anchor butter compared to your normal butter? Please explain.
   
   Can't say I notice a difference - butter is butter!
   
   
5. Do you normally use butter or margarine for baking? Do you usually use unsalted or salted butter for baking? How aware were you that using unsalted butter is great for baking?
   
   I usually use unsalted butter or sometimes block margarine.
   
   
6. Were you pleased with the results of your baking?
   
   Yes
   
   
7. Would you use Anchor butter again for your baking? Why? Were you aware Anchor was the original block butter company having made butter for over 125 years? Is this important to you?
   
   Only if on offer and cheaper than what I usually use (own brand) as no difference in taste. I used to avoid buying anchor because it was from NZ rather than the UK but I realise this has changed in recent years so would now be !more inclined to buy it (at a sensible price). Length of time brand established isn't important to me.
   
   
8. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Anchor butter to friends and family? Why?
   
   No I wouldn't recommend it over and above other butter.

[CheeseEMouse]

Non-tester. I am enjoying the period of maternity leave where I only have my toddler to look after and when she napped the other day I made a spiced rhubarb cake - it was delicious! Definitely one to repeat and dead easy to do too.

[CopperPan]

Non tester.

I love apple cake, in fact I adore any dessert with apple in it! Dutch apple cake is my favourite version.

[InAndOfMyself]

Non tester here, my favourite cake has to be banana chocolate chip, no icing. My mum used to bake it when I was little and I always wanted it for my birthdays. I have lovely memories associated with that cake.

[Cherrygrape4]

Reading this thread makes me want to make a cake!
Lemon drizzle and Victoria are the favourites in this house :)

[Guineafoul]

1. What bakes did you and your DC create? After much debate, (DD had a new baking book for her birthday) we decided to try scones. We have tried these before and they were a disaster, so we thought we would see if we could improve (mostly by following the recipe).
   
   
2. What was your child’s favourite aspect of the baking process?
   She loved the tactile rolling out of the dough and carefully cutting out the scones. The instructions said not to handle the dough too much, so she also enjoyed telling me off if she thought I wasn't adhering to the rules
   
   
3. What was your favourite aspect of baking with your DC?
   I love her pride in her work (and I love eating her results!)
   
   
4. If you don't normally use Anchor, do you think that your bakes taste different when using Anchor butter compared to your normal butter? Please explain.
   I use whatever butter I can find in the shops (we are always looking for ingredients last minute) and so have used a variety of butters, I have not noticed any obvious difference.
   
   
5. Do you normally use butter or margarine for baking? I always use unsalted butter for baking as that is what my mum taught me to do - and I have passed this instruction on to DD.
   
   
6. Were you pleased with the results of your baking?
   Very pleased! We have never produced such magnificent scones!
   
   
7. Would you use Anchor butter again for your baking? Why? Were you aware Anchor was the original block butter company having made butter for over 125 years? Is this important to you?
   Yes I would as the results were amazing. I was not aware that Anchor were the original block butter, but I think this is an interesting fact.
   
   
8. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Anchor butter to friends and family? Why?
   I would, as our scones were great and I would probably repeat the ingredients as I know this combination works.

[Anj123]

We made freezer biscuits from the Good Food magazine website as we were away part of the holidays.

Licking the bowl was my child's favourite bit.

I liked that it was an activity that didn't involve a screen!

I normally use unsalted butter for baking and didn't notice a huge difference. I prefer to use as little salt as possible when baking as it's healthier.

I was pleased with the results. I didn't know Anchor had made butter for 125 years. This doesn't make any difference to me. I would buy Anchor if it was on special offer.

I would say Anchor was as good as any other butter I have used and would talk about this trial to people if it came up in conversation. Thanks for letting us be part of this trial.

[Smcgettigan79]

Carrot Cake all the way - nom nom nom!

[FeelingSmurfy]

Non-tester here, my favourites are lemon or coconut cakes