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

1. What bakes did you and your DC create?

We did fairy cakes using the 4/4/4/2 recipe. We added cocoa to make them chocolatey.

2. What was your child’s favourite aspect of the baking process? The boys enjoyed cracking the eggs and decorating the cakes.

3. What was your favourite aspect of baking with your DC?
   Talking to them and listening to them and their ideas.

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.

It made the cakes lighter and richer in taste. It creamed really nicely and made a fluffier mixture.

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 normally use unsalted butter because I like the taste better in baking.

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

Very...they were consumed rapidly

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 wasn't aware of the time the company had been established. I would use it again because the finished product was nicer.

Thank you for the chance and the fantastic bowl and spoon!

Tester marking place

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 BBC Best-ever Brownies much loved in this household.

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

Melting the chocolate and butter together and licking out the chocolatey mix that was left in the bowl at the end (always much loved by daddy and children alike!)

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

Making something together and producing a scrummy cake/pudding that everyone in our family would love to eat. The proof of the 'pudding' is in the eating and it was all gone within 24 hours.

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'm not entirely sure it made much difference - sorry - but we very much enjoyed the opportunity to do some baking together.

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?

Usually use butter because we're purists. We always used to buy salted butter by default but have in recent months chosen to buy unsalted butter instead - possibly because it's better for cooking too! (However not as nice on toast!).

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

Yes we were very pleased with the results!

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 only if it was on special offer so matched the prices of supermarket own brand ones. I'm afraid we go for the cheapest on offer and aren't brand-loyal.

No I wasn't aware that Anchor is 125 years old - congratulations!

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

I'm not really one for discussing the finer points of baking so unlikely to come up. I would probably recommend if I was discussing this product trial and mentioned the Anchor brand though!

Thanks for choosing us to take part. It was a great way to end the Easter hols - more chocolate and some cheap fun family time together. What's not to like???

PS. Will post pics separately as they're taking an age to speed thro' hyperspace from phone to email :-(!

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 baked a banana cake. Sorry, the photo was accidentally deleted from my phone.

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

Mixing up the ingredients in the bowl.

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

Seeing her interest in what the ingredients were called, and the questions it sparked in her about where they came from.

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.

Not sure- the cake tasted similar to how it does when made with other butter products.

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?

Usually we use margarine, as it melts quicker.

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

Yes, the cake turned out well.

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. I wasn't aware of this fact, but it does create a more positive impression of Anchor.

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

Yes I would, because it is a trusted brand.

1)We made chocolate and prune brownies, DD was so please with the baking set and got stuck in! Not many brownies made it to the cake plate as some were consumed hot from the oven!
2) DD loved mixing and stirring the butter and sugar in the pan (only on a gentle heat), lived cracking the eggs and the bonus was licking the beaters at the end. Pudding at tea time was to eat her creation. She loved the experience from cooking to eating

3. I really enjoyed being creative together and seeing DD get so much enjoyment out of it, as she felt like she'd really achieved something. Great creating such happy memories, and helping her learn new skills.

4. I dont often buy Anchor, but I don't think Anchor butter affected the taste of my bake as butter was not the predominant flavour, chocolate was. So in this instance the type of butter used would not affect flavour.

5. I always use butter and never a butter substitute. I only use unsalted for high-end baking or something special. I often find that recipes calling for unsalted butter ask for a pinch of salt, so in these cases I just use salted butter instead. I don't see the point of separating the two when they are both asked for, maybe I need educating?!

6. we were all pleased with the success of the brownies, to the point they were being scoffed minutes from being taken out of the oven, hence not many made it to the cake plate!

7. I would use Anchor again, it was a quality butter and worked really well in the recipe, rich and creamy as described above ( have you Jersey cows in your herds?!), what was left tasted great on my toast too ?? Also I like the fact that it's easily available.
   I knew Anchor was a historically important in the dairy/butter industry as I remember hearing as much when I lived in NZ, but I didn't know it was a founder of block butter. Although this background and history is important and gives insight and experience to the company, it doesn't really influence me when buying butter.

8. I would recommend Anchor to family and friends as through the test it has proved itself to be a quality product with a great taste. It was definitely rich and creamy, just what I like in a butter.

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 some pecan 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!

Well, by the time our kit arrived, DS1 was in such a mood about it that he wanted nothing to do with it, so I had to do some surreptitious baking with DS2, before he got home from school. DS2 isn't such a willing helper and ran off when I cracked an egg. He came back to briefly supervise me rolling the cookie dough into balls, though and to remind me that the oven is H.O.T. hot. And he was adamant that he taste tested the finished result, before anyone else.

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

Making silly mixing noises with DS2.

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.

No significant difference, but I've only made this recipe once before, several years back.

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 usually use salted butter. I've not enjoyed the result as much when I've used unsalted - there tends to be something lacking and a bit 2 dimensional.

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

I can't stop eating them. I need DH to hide them.

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 wouldn't rule it out, but I tend to buy one butter for everything and it costs about the same - and I prefer the taste of my usual on toast.

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

Probably not. It hasn't won me away from my usual butter.

Aaaargh - forgot my cookies! And lost my edited photo, so will have to make do with this one.

non-tester

Favourite cake in the world is lemon sponge with fresh raspberries and cream in the middle and a zingy lemon water icing on top

Mmmmmmmm

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 carrot 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!

He loved wearing a new apron! He grew out of his old one ages ago and it was never replaced. I hadn't realised how much he missed having one!

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

I had planned on baking with both DC, but DS2 refused to come in from the garden. I loved having one to one quality time with DS1.

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.
   Our cake tasted lovely, but I used some sourdough starter lurking in my fridge. I don't normally use anchor, I use whatever is cheapest. Don't know if the loveliness is down to the butter or sourdough!

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 unsalted butter, I don remember the last time I bought salted butter.

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 only buy it if it was on offer.

9. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Anchor butter to friends and family? Why? Not really, I wouldn't say it tasted any better than other butters.

Non-tester here
I think you can't go wrong with a light and fluffy victoria sandwich, but it has to have plenty of buttercream and jam and of course 3 layers is better than the traditional 2.

The girls wanted to make simple cup cakes so I decided that to test the taste of the butter we should decorate with buttercream rather than icing to get a better feel for the butter

2 They loved watching their cakes rise and smoothing on the buttercream, they were absorbed in the process!

3 I love baking with the girls, my boys only want to be around to eat the end product! I love getting their full attention for a change.

4 I normally opt for own brand butter to keep costs down. I thought the end result tasted great, the buttercream was richer than my normal.

1. I normally buy butter for baking. We normally go for own brand unsalted butter

7 yes I was pleased, though it would have been better had the kids not polished them off so quickly I couldn't give them a second opinion

8 yes, I would use it again but I would also use own brand for some baking. The extra cost is worth it for some things but it does push the cost of the bake up rather.

1. Yes I would recommend but would definitely recommend if it were on offer.

Non tester. I would make Victoria sandwich cake and cheese scones. My partner loves carrot cake.

Non tester. Carrot cake is my favourite, which reminds me I should make some

Non tester likes a victoria sponge with whipped cream nd strawberry jam

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 Millionaires Shortbread, using up some Easter eggs while we were at it!

2) What was your child’s favourite aspect of the baking process? Getting messy, licking the bowl at the end or anything in between!
Quality Control, as we call it. That is to say - taste testing!

3) What was your favourite aspect of baking with your DC?
We all love baking, including DH, so it's an activity we can all do together as a family.

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 couldn't taste any difference!

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?
We always use butter, specifically butter that has a fat rating above 80%. Anything less means it's likely to be bloated with water, so the result won't be as good. Pleased to say that Anchor was above 80%. :)

7) Were you pleased with the results of your baking?
Yes, though we had some issues with the caramel and our microwave meaning it probably was a bit undercooked so didn't set properly! Still tasted good, however.

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 knew Anchor was a mature company, but I wasn't aware it had been going for so long. I must admit it's not a massive selling point for me, but for the employees sakes I'm glad the company is seemingly doing well.
I would use Anchor again, but I tend to be a bit disloyal with butter and choose whatever is on the best offer - as long as it meets the 80% fat requirement.

9) If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Anchor butter to friends and family? Why?
I'm not sure I'd specifically recommend Anchor, but if a friend was asking I might include it as a list of butters that have the required 80% fat.

As a final note, I'd actually quite like to see butter sold in stick format, as in America. It would be a lot easier to cut pieces off to add to baking, as you could easily hold it with one hand and slice chunks into the measuring bowl with the other.

Also, as I tend to keep a stock of frozen butter, a stick would defrost quicker.

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! thank you for choosing us we had great fun making easter nests. made them with sons 8 and 12

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 son 8 said the best bit was eating it! but they both enjoyed mixing it up and making their nests

3. What was your favourite aspect of baking with your DC? it was messy and fun and we all enjoyed it

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 do use anchor but not in cooking and really liked the taste of it

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 stork not sure if it is salted

6. Were you pleased with the results of your baking? very pleased with result tasted good and kids had fun

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?
   would use anchor as we all liked the taste of it in the cooking. did not realise anchor brand was so old

8. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Anchor butter to friends and family? Why?would recommend as it was easy to use and tasted great

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!

little sponge cakes and ginger bread men.

2. What was your childs favourite aspect of the baking process? Getting messy, licking the bowl at the end or anything in between!

They like stirring, breaking eggs and definitely licking the bowl.

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

Its a lovely activity to do together, I love how pleased they are with the results and trying them all together at the end.

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?

We always use unsalted butter for baking. I usually buy quite cheap butter and this was definitely creamier.

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

Yes, especially the cakes, they are lovely and light.

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 know its a known brand and I recognise it as quality. I would use Anchor again, but would probably go with what was on offer. I like the fact they do a bigger block of buter as well. We like baking a lot so need lots of butter! The age of the company isn't that improtant but it is a company I recognise from my childhood as well which is nice.

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

Yes, the brand reputation and the quality of the butter. Also the kits are great. I like the shape of the bowl and the apron is really good quality. The only problem was the argument of who got to wear it first!!

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 Easter themed Chocolate Carrot Cupcakes!

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 dd loved licking the bowl, obviously a must-do when baking!! Im sure she secretly loved making a mess too. Her face was also a treat when she saw them rising in the oven!

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

It was nice to do something creative together and work through a recipe and measure stuff out and feeling like we had achieved something nice.

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 the taste was noticeably different at all. They just tasted like they ought to.

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 normally use whatever is in the fridge, mainly margarine, like Stork or similar. I wasn't aware of the benefits of unsalted butter. To be honest, i don't pay attention to if its salted or unsalted anyway.

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

The end result was great and we all enjoyed eating them and we had plenty so my daughter could take them to school and share with her friends too. The feedback from that was very good! I found the mixing with the butter quite difficult using block butter, as i am used to using softer, spreadable margarine or butter so it did put me off using block butter in future.

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 use Anchor spreadable without a doubt, but i wouldn't buy block butter as there is just too much faffing about to soften it.
I hadn't realised that Anchor had been around for 125 years, its not really of interest to me, as i like Anchor anyway, even if it had been around 5 years, i would buy it!

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

I would recommend the spreadable tub butter yes as it is delicious and tastes beautiful. Block butter, no. For baking, spreadable butters and margarines have all the same result to me, so i wouldn't recommend any particular brand.

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!

Fairy cakes

2. What was your childs favourite aspect of the baking process? Getting messy, licking the bowl at the end or anything in between!

Measuring out and licking the bowl!

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

Engaging them in making food

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.

Don;t normally use Anchor, but it tasted lovely!

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 usually use unsalted butter.

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

Very pleased, tastey and all eaten up fast.

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?

Maybe, I usually store brand unsalted butter which is cheaper.

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

Yes, it was a good product and kids really liked the kit. Sadly have no photos of us in action as my phone camera broke .

Non tester
Favourite is always chocolate cake with chocolate icing. I don't make it very often as I then eat too much of it myself so tend to wait for Birthdays so can get other people to eat it.

1) What bakes did you and your DC create?
We baked some Vanilla fudge and chocolate chip cupcakes (rolls off the tongue doesn't it lol)

2) What was your child’s favourite aspect of the baking process?
Mixing the flour as if you mix too fast it 'poofs' all over you

3) What was your favourite aspect of baking with your DC?
Spooning the mixture into the cases as it just all goes a bit messy and we giggle that there is always a tiny baby cake as we ran out of mixture

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?
It definitely tasted a lot richer (in a good way) but was still very light sponge

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?
We normally use Stork margarine as it is what my gran always used when we were growing up and has an easy measure tub. Prefer the tatse now I have tried Anchor though

7) Were you pleased with the results of your baking?
Pretty pleased. I did leave the 2nd batch in a little bit too long though lol

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 definitely use it again. I was aware that they have been around for many many years but I didn't know it was over 125. The proof is in the pudding some would say.

9) If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Anchor butter to friends and family? Why?
I think I would. It was easy to use and good quality. Although I would think it would depend what you are baking so I'm going to try it with a few recipes:)

Non-tester - lemon drizzle cake

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 rose cupcakes with pink icing :)

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

Dd said her favourite part of baking is getting to lick the spoon at the end, and also because you get to do lots of fun stuff like stirring and squishing :D

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

Seeing how much she is enjoying herself, the fact that she is learning a valuable skill and also seeing her develop her skills.

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.

We usually use supermarket own brand butter as it's cheaper but I noticed that our baking smelt much stronger and lovelier when in the oven. I haven't noticed a difference in taste.

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?

We usually use and buy unsalted butter specially for baking.

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

Since dd made them all from scratch while I filmed and is only six, I think they were pretty amazing ! I decorated them though which wasn't too bad either ;)

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?

Wow no I wasn't aware of that and I guess its nice to know but it doesn't really make a huge difference to me.

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

I don't think I'd particularly reccomend a £2 block of butter - I actually did a double take at the price - as we're all always skint and £2 on a block of butter is very very expensive I think.

Non tester here:

I love seeing all the photos on this thread of the little ones cooking. It's such a fun activity to do with children. And such an important life skill.
Well, my favourite has to be my Mum's chocolate cake. However, if I'm feeling healthy, then I make a rather delicious Carrot, banana and walnut cake!

Coffee cake. Preferably nut free!