Taralli Dolci al Cioccolato

When we were in Rome recently, we were delighted by a plate of adorable chocolate taralli, which arrived at the end of our meal accompanied by a little bowl of warm chocolate sauce for dipping. The cookies were crunchy, not overly sweet, and surprisingly sophisticated due to the unexpected flavor of anise. Back at home, I set to work trying to recreate this treat while the taste memory was still fresh. The cookies are quite nice for nibbling on their own, but this simple chocolate sauce elevates them to another level entirely.