Substitutions / star anise
What to use instead of star anise
Use chinese five-spice at ¼ tsp / 1 star anise. Already contains star anise, so the flavor is close, but you'll also get cinnamon, clove, and fennel notes.
Every option, best first
| Use instead | How much | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese five-spice | ¼ tsp / 1 star anise | Already contains star anise, so the flavor is close, but you'll also get cinnamon, clove, and fennel notes. |
| Anise seeds | ½ tsp / 1 star anise | Milder and slightly sweeter; works well in most recipes but lacks the same depth. |
| Fennel seeds | ½ tsp / 1 star anise | Brings a similar licorice note but is softer and less pungent overall. |
How much is a cup of star anise?
Substituting by volume and weighing are different problems, and the second one has an exact answer. Weigh star anise in grams →
A word on how to read these
A substitution is a trade, not an equivalence. The ratio gets the quantity right; the third column is the part worth reading, because it tells you what you are giving up. In a stew, most of these are invisible. In a cake — where flour, liquid, fat and leavening are in a fixed relationship — the same swap can change the crumb.
Why baking notices and stew doesn't →
Where these came from
These substitutions were written by Gather's own kitchen model — the same one the app uses when you tap an ingredient and ask what else would work — then checked and saved as a fixed list in July 2026. Nothing on this page is generated while you read it. They are a good starting point and not a substitute for tasting as you go.