The 5 Best Star Anise Substitutes

While star anise looks so appealing that you might think it was used for décor, it’s actually a common spice used in certain baked goods and savory dishes made in the kitchen. If you are in the market for a star anise substitute, many can offer the same texture and flavor, while others provide a higher level of convenience in cooking.

This article will share 5 of the best substitutes you can use if you don’t have access to star anise or you are in the mood to try something completely new. 

1. Common anise🌱

Best for: baked goods, including pies and cookies, as well as flavoring hot drinks.

As we mentioned earlier in the article, star anise is not the same thing as common anise. However, each of them offer an intense licorice flavor to your favorite dishes. Natural anise has a milder flavor than star anise, which may be a perk for those who aren’t the biggest fans of licorice.

With that in mind, when you substitute common anise for star anise, you will want to use about twice the amount of common anise to get the same effect.

Advantages

Traditional anise has several health benefits that may make it worth choosing over star anise. One of the things it has large amounts of is iron, which helps produce blood cells in the human body. It also has low calories, a small amount of protein, and a bit of fiber.

Anise also offers manganese, magnesium, calcium, potassium, and more. Consuming common anise has also been shown to help balance blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.

Disadvantages

In most cases, there are few side effects people will experience using common anise. However, some people may experience allergic reactions, especially those who are allergic to ingredients like celery, dill, parsley, or fennel.

This spice also mimics estrogen and can worsen the symptoms related to hormonal conditions, such as endometriosis and breast cancer. However, most people who use anise will not experience these kinds of issues, especially in the small amounts used for cooking and baking.

Nutritional breakdown

(Based on nutritional information from USDA.)

2. Chinese five-spice🌱

Best for: marinades, dry rubs, vegetables, breading, and baked goods.

The first thing to be aware of with Chinese five-spice is that it is composed of clove, star anise, fennel, cassia, and Szechuan peppercorns. Since star anise has a substantial profile in this spice blend, it works out excellently as a substitute for only star anise.

It is, however, essential to keep in mind that the addition of the other spices means it will create a dish with a different flavor profile. This can be a positive thing with some recipes, while it might make other dishes taste a bit different than expected.

Advantages

While it might seem using a spice blend would ruin the star anise flavor you get with the single spice, that isn’t true. It’s the most potent spice in the mixture so most of the flavor you get is star anise.

The other ingredients are more in the background and added to complement the star anise, not change it. If you choose to use five spice instead of star anise, you will want to use about one and a half times the amount of star anise indicated in the recipe.

Disadvantages

While flavor can be listed as an advantage, it can also be a disadvantage if all the spices in the blend don’t complement the dish you are preparing.

This spice also has very little nutritional value in terms of calories, protein, and vitamins, so it doesn’t add much to your nutrition over a daily basis.

Nutritional breakdown

(Based on nutritional information from CalorieKing.)

3. Fennel seeds🌱

Best for: sauces, soups, fish dishes, curries, and condiments.

One of the other spices that works well as a star anise substitute is fennel seeds. Like star anise, common anise, and five-spice, it has a licorice flavor that can add a bit of zest to your cooking.

It also has more sweetness than star anise but adding in common anise can cut down on that if you prefer a more traditional flavor. Both spices are weaker than star anise, so you will need to use a more substantial amount when substituting.

As with common anise, use about one and a half times the amount of star anise listed in your recipe for the best taste.

Advantages

Fennel may not be used as commonly as things like cinnamon or pepper flakes; it’s a great option to have in your pantry. It has a licorice flavor similar to star anise and is highly aromatic to ensure your meals smell great.

This spice is low calorie and comes with a small amount of fat, protein, and digestible carbs. Fennel seed also offers many minerals such as iron, zinc, calcium, and magnesium to keep you healthy.

Disadvantages

There are not many disadvantages of using fennel seeds as long as you are not allergic to them. It can cause digestive problems if you are moving from a low fiber to a high fiber diet, but that’s true with many ingredients. In rare cases, those with allergies will experience skin reactions, in which case a different star anise substitute should be chosen.

Nutritional Breakdown

4. Allspice🌱

Best for: sweet beverages, gingerbread, roasted vegetables, and soups.

Allspice is another option available to use instead of star anise, and it will appeal to those who aren’t fans of licorice since that flavor profile isn’t present. What it does offer to your dishes is an exotic flair and an intense sweetness that can fit many dishes that request star anise instead.

Adding in a bit of sugar to the allspice can also create a flavor that is closer to star anise. Allspice is made of dried berries from a plant and may make you think of nutmeg, cloves, pepper, and cinnamon.

Advantages

This spice has several medical compounds that can ensure a healthy body. Some of them include eugenol, gallic acid, ericifolin, and quercitin.

It has a handful of calories but nothing outrageous, provides protein, healthy fats, and a large amount of calcium. Allspice also offers a supply of iron, vitamin A, and carbohydrates for those who need more of those things in their diet.

Disadvantages

If you enjoy star anise because of its licorice flavor, the lack of that flavor is going to be a disadvantage when using allspice. Most people will have no issue substituting star anise with allspice, but large amounts can cause stomach issues.

It also can slow the clotting of blood and shouldn’t be used with medications that impact that clotting. However, most recipes use small amounts that won’t create any problems.

Nutritional breakdown

5. Clove🌱

Best for: meat, rice dishes, sauces, desserts, and beverages.

Another option to stand in for the star anise in a recipe is clove. As with allspice, this ingredient doesn’t have the licorice notes of the other substitutions. However, it can offer a reasonable amounts of bitterness and large amounts of sweetness to your dish.

If you are going to use cloves to make up for star anise in your meal, you’ll want to use about the same amount as you would of the original ingredient.

Advantages

Cloves offer many nutritional benefits and offer manganese, vitamin K, vitamin C, and smaller amounts of vitamin E, calcium, and magnesium. Another benefit of choosing this substitute for star anise is that it has a wide availability and can be found in most supermarkets and health food stores.

This might be a perk if you need an alternative to star anise quickly and don’t want to go out of your way to get it.

Disadvantages

As far as human health goes, this ingredient can slow blood clotting, which leads to an increased risk of bleeding when consumed in large amounts.

However, this is typically not an issue when recipes use a small amount to flavor a baked good or other food dishes. Moderation is essential when using cloves, so making a batch of muffins or cookies with the spice shouldn’t be an issue.

Nutritional Breakdown