21 Surprising Baking Substitutes for Anise Extract

Anise extract has a powerful, spicy, but sweet and mild licorice taste. It’s often used in baking and cooking. Anise extract may be prepared from anise or star anise tincture.

The anise extract taste complements chicken, meat, ginger, citrus onions, nutmeg, and cinnamon. However, garlic has a tendency to dominate the tastes of your food, so just use a minimal quantity while cooking.

Here is another suitable option for you to consider.

1. Licorice extract
2. Licorice liqueur
3. Vanilla extract
4. Anise oil
5. Star anise
6. Pernod
7. Anise seed
8. Sambuca
9. Absinthe

Before we go into the complete list of possible substitutions, let’s learn more about this ubiquitous baking ingredient.

21 Best Anise Extract Substitute

Anise extract is prepared from both the seeds and the leaves of star anise, a popular spice. It is the seed pod produced by the fruit of the plant Illicium verum. This evergreen shrub is native to Southwest China.

The star anise pod got its name because it resembles a star. It contains an average of eight points, with each point containing a single pea-sized seed. The star anise seeds and pod are used in cooking. It is available in both ground and whole form. [Source]

Though they taste identical, anise seed and star anise are not the same. These two are not related to the same plant family.

Star anise is a member of the magnolia family, while anise seed is a member of the parsley family. The seeds of star anise are bigger and reddish-brown, while anise seeds are smaller and might be confused for fennel seeds.

To create anise extract, fill a half-pint canning jar halfway with whole star anise and top with vodka. area it in a cool, dark area, covered. [Source]

Fennel, tarragon, and licorice are some spices that taste similar to anise extract. Because it is so similar to anise extract, we feel licorice should be at the top of the list.

Licorice Extract

Our first pick is licorice, which we feel is an excellent alternative for anise extract. Licorice extract is a dark brown chemical that may give your food a natural sweetness.

You may substitute it for any cuisine that calls for anise extract, such as gums, candies, and chocolates used in cocktails.

Licorice’s inherent sweetness makes it an excellent substitute for anise extract in ice cream, wine, and curries.

In your recipe, use 1 teaspoon of licorice extract for every 1 teaspoon of anise extract.

Licorice Liqueur

The natural sweet taste of licorice liqueur is similar to that of anise extract. Other licorice liqueurs, such as French Pernot, Italian Sambuca, and Spanish Pacharan, may be used in lieu of anise extract.

Vanilla Extract

Vanilla extract is our second-best replacement for anise extract. It may be used to make ice cream, custard pie filling, desserts, bread pudding, and several cream sauces, among other things.

There are no restrictions on how you may use vanilla extract in your cuisine. It may be mixed into coffee and chocolate beverages, salad dressings, and fruit salads. Vanilla extract may also be added to sparkling water, iced tea, fruit juice, and alcoholic drinks.

Anise Oil

In place of anise extract, anise oil may be used in cooking. Anise oil is a colorless to light yellow liquid derived from anise seeds. It’s often used to flavor baked products, confections, cough drops, and sweets.

As a replacement for 1 teaspoon of anise extract in the recipe, use 1 teaspoon of anise oil.

Star Anise

When you run out of anise extract but have star anise on hand, you may replace it.

Star anise seeds may be used in a number of recipes that need the anise extract taste characteristic.

Pernod

Pernod is an anise-flavored liquor that you’re certainly familiar with. It is a decent substitute for anise extract. Pernod has a sweet taste profile that may provide a particular flavor to your dessert frosts, akin to the flavor of anise extract.

Use 1 teaspoon of Pernod for every 1 teaspoon of anise essence in your recipe.

Anise Seed

Because of its strong licorice-like taste, anise seeds are widely used to flavor pastries, biscuits, and liqueurs. It complements cookies, various sweets, and savory foods.

Use 2 teaspoons powdered anise seeds for every 1 teaspoon anise essence in the recipe.

Sambuca

Sambuca is a well-known Italian liqueur with an anise taste characteristic. It may be used in place of anise extract while creating drinks, baking sweets, and sipping coffee.

Use 1 to 2 tablespoons of Sambuca drink for every 1 teaspoon of anise essence in the recipe.

Absinthe

Absinthe is an anise-flavored French spirit that may also be used in cooking, baking, and other similar activities. It has a sweet taste that is similar to fennel. It’s a delectable blend of perfumed and sweet.

Use 1 to 2 tablespoons absinthe for every teaspoon of anise essence.

Ouzo

Ouzo is a dry anise-flavored digestif (aperitif) from Greece. Its taste profile is similar to that of Sambuca and pastis.

Ouzo is an excellent alternative for Pernod and Sambuca. It is often mixed with water to produce a murky white, occasionally pale blue, drink. Typically, a little glass with a few ice cubes is used for this.

If you like, you may sip an Ouzo using a shot glass. It is often served with mezes or appetizers like as olives, feta cheese, fries, or little fresh fish. It has a pronounced licorice-like taste, similar to absinthe, but with a smoother texture.

Anisette

Anisette is a popular anise-flavored alcoholic cocktail in several Mediterranean nations. It has a robust, rich taste with notes of anise seeds and licorice. Anisette is almost often colorless. It has a light sweet flavor.

It works well as a replacement for anise essence in baking. It may also be used to season chicken, seafood, and creamy sauces. It is widely used in the preparation of savory foods. You may also consume it cold or heated.

Anisette might also go well with fruit compotes and ice cream. An anisette will enhance the taste of your chocolate cake.

Use 2 tablespoons anisette for every 1 teaspoon of anise extract called for in the recipe.

Pastis

Pastis is a French aperitif spirit that may be used in place of anise extract since they have similar taste qualities.

Pastis may be used in lieu of anise extract in marinades, sauces, and soups. It complements shellfish, fish, and poultry meals by emitting a delightful licorice-like scent and taste.

Use 2 tablespoons Pastis liqueur for every 1 teaspoon of anise essence in your recipe.

Arak

Arak is a Levantine spirit brewed from anise seeds and grapes. It has a licorice-like taste, similar to anise extract. It tastes like sambuca, pastis, ouzo, absinthe, and raki.

It may be used in lieu of anise extract in soups, marinades, and rubs. For every 1 teaspoon of anise essence in your recipe, use 1 to 2 teaspoons of arak.

Herbs de Majorca

Herbs de Majorca is a famous herbal liqueur that is mostly used for meditation in Majorca, Spain’s biggest island in the Balearic Islands. It is made up of a variety of fragrant herbs such as anise, mint, fennel, chamomile, rosemary, lemon, orange, verbena, and marjoram.

It is green or amber in hue and is often taken as a digestif after a meal.

It pairs nicely with oregano to produce a tasty vegetable soup as an anise extract replacement. It’s also great for meatballs, stuffing for chicken or turkey, and salads.

Aguardiente

Aguardiente is a Columbian alcoholic drink comprised of water, sugar, alcohol, and anise. This anise-flavored drink tastes like licorice. Its taste profile is similar to that of pastis, ouzo, and sambuca.

It’s a great substitute for anise extract in sauces and soups. Replace 1 teaspoon of anise essence with 1 tablespoon of aguardiente in your recipe.

Raki

Raki is a popular alcoholic beverage produced from twice-distilled grapes and anise. It is an excellent substitute for anise extract in a variety of savory seafood and meze recipes.

It tastes like a cross between pastis and sambuca. 1 tablespoon Raki drink equals 1 teaspoon anise essence in your recipe.

Fennel Seeds

Fennel seeds were included to the list because they may provide a sweet, licorice-like taste to your meals, making them a fantastic substitute for anise essence. It may be used to make sauces, salads, and soups.

Use a teaspoon of fennel seeds for every teaspoon of anise essence.

Anise Spirits

Anise spirits are often less sweet than anisette and anise extract. If you like a sweeter meal, increase the amount of anise spirits in the recipe.

It works well as a substitute for anise extract in soups, sauces, and dressings.

Chinese Five-Spice Powder

Because it has the same spicy-sweet taste as anise, Chinese five-spice powder may be used in lieu of anise extract. Use it in lieu of meat in dishes, roasted fowl, and grilled fish.

In the recipe, substitute 1 teaspoon of anise essence with 1 teaspoon of Chinese five-spice.

Mastika

Mastika is a famous Greek liqueur produced from mastic, which is a resin extracted from the mastic tree. It tastes like pine or cedar. It is utilized not only as a culinary spice in Greece, but also as a supplement due to its medicinal benefits.

Its sweet taste makes it an excellent alternative for anise extract in baked goods such as cookies, biscuits, and bread. It is a common element in koulourakia, which are Greek Easter cookies.

Use 1 to 2 teaspoons mastika for every 1 teaspoon anise essence in your recipe.

Chinchon

Chinchon is another anise-based liquor that originated in Chinchon, Madrid, Spain. It’s prepared from a distilled maceration of green anise seeds, water, and alcohol.

It has a sweet taste with a trace of dried anise seed. It may also be used in lieu of anise extract in sauces, dressings, and soups. For every 1 teaspoon of anise essence in your recipe, use 1 to 2 teaspoons of chinchon.