The 9 best substitutes for Galliano

Galliano is a sweet, vanilla-anise flavored Italian herbal liqueur with subtle notes of citrus and woody herbs.

If you fancy an Italian-style dinner but don’t have Galliano in your drinks cabinet, don’t panic! There are many Galliano substitutes you can choose from.

What are the best substitutes for Galliano? The best substitutes for Galliano are Pernod, Anisette, Sambuca, Ouzo, Raki, and white wine. The best non-alcoholic alternatives to Galliano are orange juice, anise-flavored herbs and spices, or licorice and vanilla extracts. 

We’ve got everything you need to know about Galliano: how it’s used and the best substitutes for this sweet vanilla-anise flavored liqueur. You will also learn how to choose the best substitute for Galliano that suits the needs of your recipe.

What is Galliano and how is it used?

If you’re not a fan of cocktails, the word Galliano may not mean much to you. However, Galliano is a famous Italian liqueur flavored with vanilla and anise, with subtle hints of Mediterranean herbs and spices.

Galliano’s exact recipe is being kept under wraps, but the blend is known to include anise, cinnamon, juniper, lavender, musky yarrow, mint, star anise, and vanilla.

The yellow liqueur has 42.3% alcohol and comes in a distinctive tall, slim bottle.

As Galliano is a delicious drink with a high alcohol content, it goes without saying that you can use it to make a number of amazing cocktails.

In Italy, it is most common to enjoy it as a “digestive”, an after-dinner drink that is consumed to facilitate digestion.

But Galliano’s uses aren’t limited to cocktails and spirits. Since this pleasant liqueur originates from Italy, many recipes that include Galliano have a Mediterranean flavor. Some classic recipes that use Galliano are

• chicken galliano
• Chocolate cake, mascarpone and espresso dulce de leche
• harvey wallbanger cake
• Tiramisu

As with all liqueurs, when cooking with Galliano avoid boiling it too much, as this will reduce the flavor and aroma.

Can Galliano be substituted?

Galliano’s flavor is unique, with a delicately sweet blend of vanilla and anise flavors and subtle citrus and woody herbal notes. This flavor comes from a blend of over 30 herbs and spices.

Although nothing completely mimics the taste of Galliano, it is possible to find alternatives to use in its place.

If your recipe calls for Galliano and you don’t have it, it can be tempting to skip this ingredient. However, there are many alternative ways to introduce Galiano-like flavors into your dish.

Skipping the galian without finding a substitute can leave your dish tasteless and unpleasant.

The 9 Best Substitutes for Galian

If you’re baking a gorgeous chocolate cake, cooking a savory chicken casserole, or making a sauce for steaks, the recipe may call for Galliano.

However, this Italian liqueur is not something most of us have in our beverage cabinet.

Whatever you make with Galliano, there are plenty of substitutions available . From things we always keep on hand to less common spirits and drinks, there are plenty of options to choose from.

Here are the 9 best Galliano substitutes, including vanilla and anise flavored liqueurs, other drinks with similar alcoholic content, and non-alcoholic substitutions.

1.Pernod

Originally from France, Pernod is an aniseed liqueur . Traditionally, Pernod is used in seafood recipes, as the licorice flavor works well in dishes like bouillabaisse and mussels.

The Pernod has about the same potency as the Galliano and will bring the same aniseed flavors to your plate.

It can be used as a great substitute for Galliano in savory and sweet dishes, but keep in mind that apart from aniseed, Pernod’s flavor profile differs from Galliano.

Pernod is much less sweet than Galliano , so you may want to add a bit more sweetness to your recipe to compensate. Sugar or honey would work well in this case.

Another difference is that Pernod lacks the vanilla flavor of Galliano, so if Galliano is a key part of your recipe, you can add a bit of vanilla extract as well. This is especially important if you are preparing a cake or dessert.

2. Anise (Anise)

Aniseed, also known as anis, is a colorless liqueur popular in many Mediterranean countries.

With a strong aniseed flavor and a sweet syrupy consistency , aniseed is a great alternative to galian in cake and dessert recipes.

One of the advantages of Anisette is that it is not as strong as Galliano, with 25% alcohol. However, it has a stronger anise flavor than Galliano, and less herbal undertones.

3. Sambuka

Sambuca, like Galliano, comes from Italy, and is an aniseed liqueur with hints of herbs and berries. Sambuca comes in three different varieties: light, red and black.

Almost as strong as Galliano, Sambuca has a high alcohol content and a strong flavor. It works well as a substitute for Galliano, as it has a flavor profile similar to anise and herbs, and is slightly sweet.

However, the berry flavor of Sambuca may not work well with some dishes, especially delicate flavors like fish and light sauces.

You can add some vanilla when using Sambuca in desserts to mimic the Galliano flavor.

4.ouzo

Anyone who has traveled to Greece or Cyprus will know about Ouzo. This strong and dry liquor is normally consumed as an aperitif. With a strong licorice flavor, if you try it once you will never forget it.

The licorice flavor of Ouzo makes it a good substitute for Galliano, but since the flavor is so strong, we suggest cutting the amount in half.

Just like with Pernod, you can sweeten your Ouzo with sugar or honey and add a bit of vanilla extract to better mimic the flavor of Galliano.

5. Fresh orange juice

Not everyone likes the taste of alcohol in their food, and you may be wondering what non-alcoholic alternatives are out there to Galliano.

Citrus juices are a great alternative to liqueurs as they add a strong flavor and work well with both sweet and savory recipes.

Fresh orange juice is the best citrus substitute for Galliano , as it is sweeter than other citrus fruits such as lemon or lime.

The downside is that the orange juice doesn’t deliver the anise and vanilla flavors of the Galliano, but you can substitute it in other ways.

The good thing is that most of us have fresh oranges in the fruit bowl or a carton of fresh orange juice in the fridge, so there’s no need to go out and buy a bottle of alcohol for a single recipe.

6.Raki

Raki originates from Turkey and, like Galliano, has a strong anise flavor. The taste of Raki is similar to Ouzo, but with a much higher alcohol content: up to 90%!

If you decide to use Raki as a substitute for Galliano, be careful, it is very potent! We suggest you reduce the amount by at least half to start.

7. White wine

White wine is possibly one of the most used alcohols in the kitchen: its delicate flavor adds depth and intensity to stews and sauces.

Obviously, the taste of white wine is very different from that of Galiano, so it is not a good substitute in dishes where the flavors of anise and vanilla are essential.

However, it can be a good substitute if you want a more subtle flavor than Galliano.

You can also use white wine and add the anise and vanilla flavors if you want to mimic the flavor profile of Galliano, but with a lower alcohol content.

8. Star anise, fennel or anise seed

Want to get the taste of Galliano without the alcohol? You may not have to look any further than your spice drawer.

Star anise, fennel, and anise seeds are commonly found in grocery stores, and are excellent substitutes for the anise flavor of Galliano.

For the best flavor, use whole spices if you have them . The seeds can be roasted and ground into a powder before using, but the star anise must be used whole. Of course, do not forget to take them out before serving the food!

9. Licorice and vanilla extracts

If you’re looking for a different non-alcoholic option for galian, a dash of licorice and/or vanilla extract can be a quick and easy substitute.

Remember that the extracts are very concentrated, so a few drops of each will suffice to flavor baked goods, desserts, and even marinades.

How to Choose a Galliano Substitute

When choosing a substitute for Gallian, you must first decide why Gallian is being used in that particular recipe.

Galian is used in cooking for two reasons. First of all, for the taste: this sweet liqueur, flavored with anise and vanilla, adds a unique and subtle flavor and aroma to many dishes.

Second, the Galliano’s alcohol content helps bring out various flavors in the dish.

So when choosing a Galliano substitute

Use Pernod, Anisette, Sambuca, or another anise-flavored drink if you need the closest substitute for Galliano in flavor . Remember that you may need to add some sugar or honey if your substitute is not as sweet as Galliano.

Use white wine if you need to add an alcoholic beverage to the dish and the flavor notes aren’t really important.

Use fresh orange juice, anise-flavored spices, or licorice and vanilla extract (or a combination of these) if you need a non-alcoholic substitute for Galliano.

Whichever substitute you choose, add it to the recipe a little at a time and keep tasting the dish so you don’t go overboard.