I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this before, but I have a weakness for arepas and I eat them almost every day for breakfast. Eating arepas makes me happy and connects me with my country.
In Colombia we eat all kinds of arepas and these Arepuelas or Anisitas (sweet arepas) are very popular on the Atlantic coast of Colombia. You can eat them with hot chocolate for breakfast or just as a quick snack with coffee. They are crispy, sweet and delicious. Enjoy!
Ingredients
(6 arepas)
1 cup masarepa (preecooked cornmeal)
1 cup warm water
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon crused anise seeds
Vegetable oil for frying
Directions
1. Combine the masarepa, warm water, anise seeds and sugar, mixing thoroughly. Let mixture stand for five minutes.
2. Knead with your hands for about 3 minutes, moistening your hands with water as you work.
3. Form 6 small balls with the dough. Place each ball between 2 plastic bags and with a flat pot cover, flatten to ¼ inch.
4. Heat the vegetable oil in a large heavy pot to 350 F. Add the arepas in the heated oil one by one, fry for 3 minutes, turning over once about half way through.
5. Using a slotted spoon, carefully remove the arepas from the oil and drain on paper towels.
{ 39 comments… read them below or add one }
Yum! Those sound so perfectly crisp and I love the flavors with anise!
I have always wanted to make arepas…those look delicious!
This sound so appealing. Crusty and sweet with a touch of aniseed! Very moorish indeed!!
Looks delicious!!
Popped in from Barbara’s to say hi! You have a fascinating blog!
I’d totally have this for breakfast everyday if I could, too!
These look great. Sometimes I eat Korean food because I want to feel connected to the country, too. 
Oh I love this! it reminds me of “arepitas” that we make in The Dominican Republic, we use corn meal, anise seeds, eggs, milk and some butter, we eat them at lunch time as a side dish, will definitely make this soon, yum!
Thank you guys for visiting my blog!
talk about your ideal breakfast–i can definitely see how you can stand to eat these every morning! how delightful they’d be, even without the aromatic anise.
Erica, what can be substituted for the anise?
Baking is my Zen- The anise is very important in this recipe!
Of course you have a weakness for arepas
These anisitas look delicious. I love anything with anise flavoring.
oh love your blog i learn something new every time have a great weekend Rebecca
Thank you all for the comments! I truly appreciate it!
I would want to eat them every day too! What a lovely way to start the day!
Arepas sounds like a great snack! I would probably pop them in my mouth compulsively.
Hi Erica!
I’m an arepa lover too, but this is one of my favorites! I haven’t had one in ages!!
I’m so glad I discovered this page in English….now I can share with my friends and show them how wonderful is our Colombian food.
I’ll come back!!
I’ve not even had arepas for breakfaset yet and I know I’d have a weakness for them as well. As delicious as they look I’m scared to get started =) The addition of anise sounds like something special.
How lovely and delicate looking. I’ve never had one and will have to make these!
Thank you guys
I am with you – I love arepas. This is a keeper because it has one of my favorite flavors…Anis.
Gracias
PLATANOS, MANGOES AND ME
These look crispy and so delicious! Perfect with the anise flavor!
i love anise in biscuits so congratulations !! Pierre
Hummm, I love arepas, but never seen the Massarepa in the supermarket. Maybe I overlooked it. It sounds delicious, I love anise.
Thank you everyone!
Hi Erica. I lived in Medellin for 6 months a few years ago and hardly a day goes by that I don’t crave some Colombian food! About a month ago I finally learned how to make the large flat arepas that are so popular in Medellin. (Which I love toasted with butter and queso blanco.) I can’t wait to try these. Isn’t anise the flavor in Agua Diente? Hmmmm. Ha ha. Love this site.
Eddie- Yes, Aguardiente is made with anise!
These also sound like something I would go nuts for! Crunchy is my weakness, add a touch of salt! Somehow hot sauce, even for breakfast would find its way onto them
I am so excited to find your blog. Colombian cooking is so strange to me, but you definitely help!!
I had one of these recently and I agree they’re delicious! Thanks for sharing the recipe Erica! It’s like you’re reading my mind!
Thank you all for taking the time to read my post!
What a beautiful delicacy!! This looks like Indian pooris, except with cornmeal and sweet. The anise must be adding nice flavor.
I would appreciate more visual materials, to make your blog more attractive, but your writing style really compensates it. But there is always place for improvement
Hello Erica; made these Arepas con Anis…tremendas!!!! un favor, podrias poner las recetas para los diferentes tipos de bollos de colombia? Vivi en B/Quilla y me gustaria, si no probarlos nuevamente, verlos en fotos aunque sea!!!!
Mery- Los bollos de Chocolo estan en mi lista de recetas.
Hi Erica,
I am an expat living in Melbourne and since I found your website I have been getting re-acquainted with Colombian food! I had tried before with other cookbooks but your recipes are always so easy to follow and the measurements are just perfect! even my Aussie husband has made one of your dishes and it always comes up delicious!
I hope you keep going with your website because you are doing such a good job!!! when my mum comes to visit I can now cook her a typical Colombian meal!!:)
Thank you
hi! i just wanted to let you know that a whole bunch of kindergardeners are going to be making your anisita arepas on friday!!! they are syudents in an all spanish immersion school in new orleans, la. and this is the recipe they will be making to represent colombia!!! it is the end of the year, and they are seasoned little cooks now.. they can handle it!
thank you soooo much for posting it with that lovely photo! mmmmm!
Thanks, Kimberly! Good luck!