The Best Advent Calendar for Everyone on Your List
Updated: Oct. 17, 2023
It's almost time to count down to Christmas! Get a head start with the best Advent calendars for 2023. These top picks are ready to buy or pre-order.
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It’s fun to celebrate the holidays with the Christmas tradition of an Advent calendar. This practice dates back to the mid-19th Century when German Protestants put chalk marks on their doors to count down the days leading up to Christmas.
Today, our Advent calendars have a little bit more spirit. From chocolates and coffee to boozy beverages (and everything in between), the choices are endless. Because it’s technically a calendar, it’s recommended to start on day 1 to correspond with each day’s date. That will also help you keep track of what days you’ve completed already without having to do any math. Some Advent calendars also feature the best surprises at the end of the calendar, so it’s fun to lead up to them.
But, of course, if you want to spice things up you can also start at 24 and count backwards to the days leading up to Christmas. For calendars with 12 surprises, start opening on December 13. Take a look at our list of the best Advent calendars for everyone this season.
Best Overall Advent Calendar: Harry & David Countdown
Topping our list of best Advent calendars, this Harry & David countdown features 24 tastes of the brand’s most iconic products. You’ll snack on a little bit of everything—think Moose Munch popcorn, dried fruits and nuts, cookies, trail mix and even a Royal Riviera pear. Weighing in at over seven pounds, this bountiful Advent calendar is big enough for the whole family. It also makes for a wonderful food gift.
Best Jam Advent Calendar: Bonne Maman Countdown
Bonne Maman’s countdown sells out fast every year, so order yours early. Each window in this mini jam Advent calendar reveals a one-ounce jar of fruit spread or honey. With 24 unique flavors, your taste buds will always have a little something sweet to snack on. This has to be one of the best Advent calendars for 2023 because it gives you a reason to make homemade biscuits or toast every day in December.
Best Tea Advent Calendar: Vahdam Teas Countdown
There’s nothing better in the winter than curling up with a cup of tea. And this winter, you can give your favorite tea lover (or yourself) the gift of some seriously gourmet tea. The brews in this Christmas tea Advent calendar range from authentic Indian masala chai to cookies and cream herbal tea, so you’re guaranteed a variety of choices.
Best K-Cup Advent Calendar: Keurig 24 Cups of Cheer
If single-cup brews are more your style, add a K-cup Advent calendar to your cart. This affordable option includes a mix of coffees, cocoas and lattes from brands such as Caribou Coffee, Green Mountain and Panera Bread. While you’re shopping, pick up these genius Keurig cleaning pods too.
Best Hot Chocolate Advent Calendar: Yawn Brew 24 Days of Hot Chocolate Countdown
If you’re like us, the best Advent calendars include something you can savor every morning—or night. And on chilly winter days, nothing warms the soul better than a classic cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows on top. Enjoy 24 days of drinking chocolate as you count the days until Christmas with this decadent hot chocolate Advent calendar. Look forward to the classics like milk and dark chocolate blends, plus exclusive flavors like winter cranberry, Christmas carrot and chocolate orange. Speaking of, have you seen these hot chocolate sets perfect for holiday gifting?
Best Candy Advent Calendar: The Grinch Advent Calendar
Don’t worry, the Grinch can’t steal the Christmas magic inside this sweet countdown! Filled with 24 days of candy, The Grinch Advent Calendar is just what sweets fanatics and movie lovers to start their holiday on the right foot. Bonus points to the candy-lover who finds The Grinch’s chocolate-coated heart first.
Best Chocolate Advent Calendar: Compartés Gourmet Chocolate Advent Calendar
Yes, the Compartés chocolate Advent calendar may feel pricey, but there’s a reason it makes our list of best Advent calendars. Compartés is a gourmet chocolatier fusing art and creativity into every bite. Every detail, from the stunning packaging to the exceptional hand-made treats exudes artful excellence, making them wonderful Christmas chocolates to gift.
This year’s gourmet chocolate Advent calendar is no exception. I had the pleasure of testing the countdown, and I can confirm the brand’s “no-melt guarantee” holds up. The calendar arrived carefully packaged inside a box packed with ice to keep the chocolates in perfect condition until opening. The 24 days of chocolate are an enchanting treasure to look forward to every morning (or evening). I won’t spoil all the surprises, but you can expect rich chocolates with a slightly creamy inside that greet tastebuds to earthly delights like peanut butter banana and honey lavender.
Best Whiskey Advent Calendar: Flaviar Whiskey Countdown
This whiskey Advent calendar is pricey—but it’s worth it. Not only do you get 24 whiskey samples from all around the world, but you’ll unwrap a slew of other surprises, like a tasting journal and Glencairn glass. Plus, the packaging is impeccable. This is the ultimate gift for whiskey lovers or home bartenders.
Best Liquor Advent Calendar: GiveThemBeer Liquor Countdown
For nights when the holidays get stressful, we found just the countdown to get you in the holiday spirit. It’s the GiveThemBeer liquor Advent calendar filled with 24 nights of everyone’s favorite spirits. Think tequila for Christmas margaritas and Bailey’s for creamy espresso martinis. We’ll toast to that!
Best Cocktail Advent Calendar: Woodford Reserve 8 Days of Spirit
Making spirits bright just got more literal. This cocktail Advent calendar features eight cocktail mixers and bitters for crafting everything from an old-fashioned to a whiskey sour. Just add bourbon!
Best Beer Advent Calendar: GiveThemBeer Countdown
Beer lovers, listen up. If counting down the days until Christmas with candy or chocolate isn’t your thing, we found one of the best boozy Advent calendars for bringing breweries from around the country straight to your door. The GiveThemBeer Advent calendar offers a little something for everyone from IPAs to stouts and ales. Now that’s a 12 days of Christmas countdown we can get behind.
Best Baking Advent Calendar: Williams Sonoma 24 Days of Baking Cookies
We’re not sure if we’ve ever seen a cuter countdown than this baking Advent calendar. With a festive patisserie-style box that opens to reveal 24 darling boxes, this gift for bakers is guaranteed to bring a smile. Plus, unwrap surprises like spatulas, cookie cutters and icing tools. Homemade Christmas cookies await!
Best Holiday Bark Advent Calendar: Williams Sonoma Peppermint Bark Advent Calendar
Packed with 24 days of Williams Sonoma’s peppermint goodness, kids and adults alike will appreciate this holiday bark Advent calendar featuring the beloved treat in a variety of different shapes. Think festive snowmen, Christmas trees and toy soldiers. Grab your favorite hot cocoa or coffee blend and get to dipping!
Best Keepsake Advent Calendar: Harry & David Reusable Countdown
Get the best of both worlds with this keepsake Advent calendar that blends the delicious eats of Harry & David with the practicality of a reusable Advent calendar. Plus, each of the 24 drawers is filled with candies or cookies, and, once empty, it can be re-filled for next year’s countdown.
Best Spice Advent Calendar: Le Comptoir Colonial Spice Countdown
Add some flavor to December days with this spice Advent calendar. You’ll enjoy 24 spice packets, each designed for veggies, sides, fish, meat or dessert. And, since this countdown is purveyed by a Parisian spice specialist, you know the quality shines. Stock up on our favorite holiday spices too.
Best Hot Sauce Advent Calendar: 12 Days of Hot Sauce
Everything from taco night to morning eggs just got more exciting. This flavor-packed hot sauce Advent calendar will bring a little heat to even the coldest winter day. Plus, hot sauce fanatics can look forward to blends like pineapple papaya BBQ, smokey horseradish and garlic reaper.
Best Chef’s Advent Calendar: Oliviers & Co. Countdown
Shopping for chefs and home cooks can be tricky. After all, it’s hard to know exactly what tools, gadgets or ingredients they’ll need to whip up a culinary masterpiece. Luckily, this chef’s Advent calendar covers all of the bases. It features herb salts, gourmet olive oils, vinegars, spreads and truffles for foodie indulgences every day of December.
Best Puzzle Advent Calendar: Winter Lights Christmas Countdown
We all have someone on our list whose love language is puzzle-building. For me, it’s my grandma, but I also can’t pass up a good evening spent creating a display-worthy puzzle while sipping on my favorite cozy beverage. That’s exactly what you’ll score with the Winter Lights Puzzle Christmas Countdown—12 nights of puzzles fit for cozy evenings leading up to Christmas.
Each mini-puzzle depicts a different winter city scene. Combine them to create Christmas wall art or frame them separately for festive DIY art, the choice is yours!
Best Craft Advent Calendar: Stitch a Day Embroidery Calendar
Whether you send it as a gift for the crafter or keep it for yourself, this stitch-a-day embroidery calendar encourages anyone to soak up the peaceful moments of the holiday season. From the 1st to the 25th of December, crafters will stitch a merry new design. By the end, they’ll have a delightful holiday decoration to enjoy year after year. Cozy up with a cup of hot chocolate and enjoy the solitude of this DIY Advent calendar.
Best Harry Potter Advent Calendar: Williams Sonoma Candy Countdown
Best Advent calendars for kids and adults alike? Check! It’s not quite an invitation to the Yule Ball, but this Harry Potter Advent calendar is the next best thing. Potterheads will revel in their haul of lemon sherbets, themed gummies and Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans, among other sweet treats. Alohomora! Unlock these other Harry Potter gifts too.
Best Holiday Movie Advent Calendar: Elf 12 Days of Holiday Cheer Countdown
Is it even Christmas without watching Elf on repeat? Aptly themed after everything Buddy the Elf grew up eating at the North Pole, this 12 Days of Holiday Cheer Countdown transports fans to a winter wonderland complete with a bounty of maple syrup, peppermint taffy and sugar cookie goodness. We can’t think of a better Advent calendar to gift your Elf-obsessed bestie.
Best Star Wars Advent Calendar: Lego Countdown
Have yourself a merry little Sithmas! With 320 pieces inside this Lego Star Wars countdown, your favorite Jedi won’t be disappointed. You’ll get 24 Lego characters and mini-builds in this Star Wars Advent calendar. Each new day reveals a mix of classic and festive-themed Star Wars icons, including Luke Skywalker, R2-D2 and Darth Vader.
Best Disney Advent Calendar: Storybook Countdown
December bedtime stories just got way more exciting. This Disney Advent calendar includes a short, themed paperback story featuring the characters you know and love. Make Christmas morning even more special by adding Mickey waffles to the menu!
Best Preschool Advent Calendar: Fisher Price Little People Advent Calendar
Looking for pint-sized Advent calendars for the kiddos on your list? Complete with 24 Little People friends, this Fisher Price Advent calendar is appropriate for little hands ages 1 to 5. By the end of the countdown, they’ll have just the right toys to build a Little People Christmas village. How sweet!
Best Beauty Advent Calendar: The Body Shop Box of Wonders
In case you’re new to Advent calendar season, here’s a little tip. Some beauty Advent calendars, like the QVC-exclusive The Body Shop Box of Wonders, can be an absolute steal in terms of overall value for the price you actually pay. These countdowns are a stellar way to stock up on your favorite beauty brand’s essentials for the new year.
You’ll score a little bit of everything inside this countdown, including 14 full-size items (14!) and beauty essentials for the face, hands and entire body. It’ll be hard to gift this beauty Advent calendar to anyone other than yourself—the goodies are just that good!
Best Makeup Advent Calendar: Benefit Cosmetics All I Want Advent Calendar
Time to stock up on makeup for the new year! The Benefit Cosmetics’ All I Want Countdown offers 24 days of goodies for the eyes, lips and face. The actual value inside is worth $330, which is a total bargain for what you actually pay. We especially love that this beauty-packed countdown includes true makeup essentials. Don’t worry about receiving—or gifting—makeup that isn’t quite your (or their) style.
Best Nail Care Advent Calendar: Olive & June 25 Days of Mani Magic
There’s an Advent calendar for everything these days, including nail care. As a loyal fan of Olive & June’s nail care, I can only imagine the wonderful gifts hidden inside their holiday Advent calendars. I have my eyes on the 25 Days of Mani Magic for its impeccable value.
And yes, you can expect more than just nail polish, although their paint is reason enough to score this countdown because it’s non-toxic and super high quality. You’ll have the best nails at every holiday party this year thanks to this Advent calendar. Bye-bye expensive nail salon appointments!
Best Aromatherapy Advent Calendar: Shower Steamer Countdown
Meet the bath bombs more practical cousin. This shower steamers Advent calendar has 24 individually wrapped fizzers that guarantee an aromatherapy experience every. single. day. Plus, indulge in scents like orange clove, peppermint and rosemary fir. And for a spa-like treatment, use the steamers as an exfoliating scrub. Speaking of, here are more spa gifts for everyone on your list.
Additional research contributed by Senior Shopping Editor, Katie Bandurski
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