The best advent calendar hinges on your personal taste, but if you prioritize food and drink, these 2020 advent calendars—full of everything from cheese and chocolate to wine and beer—are all delicious ways to mark the holiday season. There’s even a pork rind calendar for committed carnivores. And of course there are options for your pets.
Yes, we know, October isn’t even over yet, but for many, Christmas shopping season is well under way (in no small part because we can expect coronavirus-related shipping delays this year)—and anyone who loves a good Christmas advent calendar will need to order theirs ASAP in order to get them in time to actually count down the days until Dec. 25.
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In a festive season of joyous excess, what better way to mark the days leading up to the main event than to indulge in yet another little treat? And if you’re not quite feeling it this year, think of it this way instead: You deserve every morsel of pleasure you can find in the last days of 2020.
Editor’s Note: Prices shown do not include shipping and handling.
The Best 2020 Food Advent Calendars
Bonne Maman Preserves Advent Calendar, $34.99 from Amazon
Bonne Maman
With 24 adorably petite jars of different limited-edition jams and jellies (plus honey), all of which are free of high fructose corn syrup and totally all-natural, this is perfect for any toast lover on your list (or, you know, yourself). There’s a mix of both new and classic flavors, including Fig with Cardamom; Cherry with Christmas Spice; Lemon & Yuzu; and Apricot with Lavender. This sold out fast last year, so don’t hesitate if preserves are your jam! It’s also available at World Market.Buy Now
12 Days of Christmas Gift Tower, $79.99 from Harry & David
Harry & David
This delightful wooden gift box looks like a stack of presents and each of the 12 drawers contains a different treat, like Moose Munch, chocolate-covered cherries, truffles, mints, and malt balls. Even once the confections are gone, the box itself can be reused for years to come.Buy Now
12 Days of Moose Munch, $39.99 from Harry & David
Harry & David
If all you care about is the Moose Munch (and who could blame you?), this merry, snowy-scene advent calendar contains a dozen different flavors of the sweet gourmet popcorn mix, including dark chocolate salted caramel, white chocolate Cinnabon, dark chocolate peppermint bark, and mint chocolate with candy trees.Buy Now
Sugarfina 24 Tastes of Christmas Advent Calendar, $48 from Neiman Marcus
Neiman Marcus
This adorably festive calendar from cult candy fave Sugarfina houses 24 different candies (four pieces of each), from apple frogs, baby butterflies, and pink flamingos to gingerbread cookie bites, candy cane caramels, and edible Christmas trees, and is perfect for the person with a sweet tooth in your life who’s tired of the usual chocolate (if such people actually exist).Buy Now
Harry Potter Advent Calendar, $39.95 from Williams Sonoma
Williams Sonoma
For wannabe wizards, this “Harry Potter” themed calendar conceals a mix of candies that even muggles will love, including Fizzing Whizbees, Gummy Frogs, Butterscotch Drops, and (of course) Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans. Cast your summoning charm ASAP because we’re guessing these will sell out before you can say accio!Buy Now
Harry & David Deluxe Advent Calendar, $99.99 from Harry & David
Harry & David
Big spenders craving a more traditional chocolate advent calendar (but way better than the waxy drugstore versions of yore) will love this one with assorted truffles in milk and dark chocolate with fillings like raspberry, espresso, and hazelnut, plus Moose Munch and mini mints. The ornament-bedecked box is sturdy enough to refill next year too.Buy Now
Charbonnel et Walker Chocolate and Truffles Advent Calendar, $95 from Sur La Table
Sur La Table
Open the double doors of this theater-inspired advent calendar to reveal a grand assortment of rich truffles and bonbons from the English chocolatier Charbonnel et Walker, known for their couverture dark chocolate since 1875.Buy Now
Godiva Advent Calendar, $39.95 from Godiva
Godiva
At a much gentler price point, you can’t go wrong with Godiva. Everyone knows it, everyone loves it, and it’s packed into a charmingly illustrated advent calendar that’ll make you smile even before you fetch your daily piece of creamy chocolate. It’s also available from Macy’s.Buy Now
Peppermint Bark Advent Calendar, $29.95 from Williams Sonoma
Williams Sonoma
Williams Sonoma is offering a lavishly illustrated chocolate advent calendar filled with the usual milk chocolate confections, but even those of who eagerly awaited each season’s hater’s guide to their Christmas catalog must admit, their peppermint bark is fire. This cute calendar contains 24 pieces of it in festive shapes. Good luck not getting ahead of yourself.Buy Now
Vegan Chocolate Advent Calendar, $14.95 from No Whey! Foods
No Whey
Clearly, chocolate advent calendars are the most prevalent example of the edible form, but sadly, most aren’t an option for vegans. Well, this one is—and it’s also gluten-free and allergy-friendly. It contains vegan chocolates with different holiday designs on each.Buy Now
McCrea’s Caramel Advent Calendar, $38 from Uncommon Goods
Yet another way to treat a sweet tooth, this whimsically designed calendar hides creamy, handmade caramels in 12 amazing flavors like Tapped Maple, Cinnamon Clove, Dark Roasted Mocha, Chocolate Peppermint, and Ginger Fusion—as well as classic Vanilla. The small-batch candies are slow cooked in copper kettles using the best (and fewest) ingredients possible.Buy Now
Cheese Advent Calendar, price varies from Target (and other retailers)
So Wrong It’s Nom
Savory advent calendars are fairly rare, but this one would be special even if they weren’t—because it’s full of nine varieties of fine cheese (like smoky Applewood British cheddar and herbal Ilchester Derby with sage), all suitable for vegetarians. In the U.S., it will be available at select Target stores, as well as Supervalu, Sprouts, Schnucks, Meijer, Jewel, Lidl, and Publix locations, starting in November. If you can’t find one near you, no need to cancel Christmas! Just buy your own reusable advent calendar and put whatever cheeses you want inside it (and be sure to keep it in the fridge).See More
What On Earth LED-Lighted Santa's Workshop 24-Day Wooden Advent Calendar, $47.50 from Amazon
This darling wooden advent calendar lights up thanks to two AA batteries, and is sure to become a cherished heirloom, whether you put cheese in it or not.
The 25 Sauces of Christmas Hot Sauce Advent Calendar, $79.99 from Amazon
Amazon
Have a hot-head in your life? Or maybe that’s you? Then this advent calendar packed with 25 different mini bottles of hot sauce is likely to kindle a warm glow of happiness (and capsaicin).Buy Now
Joe & Seph’s Gourmet Popcorn Advent Calendar, $29.99 from World Market
Joe & Seph’s
This charming advent calendar’s snowy Victorian storefront conceals 12 different flavors of popcorn (including salted caramel, toffee apple and cinnamon, banoffee pie, pumpkin spice, double chocolate, tiramisu, and gingerbread)—none of which contain artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives, and all of which are suitable for vegetarians. If it sells out at World Market, you can order directly from the company’s UK site for shipping to the U.S. and Canada.Buy Now
The Snaffling Pig Pork Crackling Advent Calendar, $24.63 from British Corner Shop
The Snaffling Pig
If your cravings are more carnivorous, check out this amazing pork crackling advent calendar, which is filled with 24 mini bags of crunchy pig skin snacks in six different flavors (Pigs in Blankets, Low & Slow BBQ, Maple, Black Pepper, Salt ‘N’ Vinegar, and Perfectly Salted). It’s also available on Amazon.Buy Now
DreamBone Rawhide Free Dog Chew Advent Calendar, $14.99 from Walmart
Amazon
There’s no reason to leave your best four-legged friend out of the advent calendar tradition either. This one is filled with three different types of rawhide-free chews that are easy to digest and sure to delight, made with real chicken and sweet potatoes. If you want to lavish them with even more affection, get them a pet food delivery subscription for Christmas. Because even dogs don’t want another sweater.Buy Now
The Best 2020 Drink Advent Calendars
Wine Lovers Advent Calendar, $139.99 from Macy’s Wine Cellar
Direct Wines Inc.
Just one of many options for wine lovers, this traditional-looking advent calendar has a grown-up twist: It contains 24 quarter bottles of vino from around the world, including French reds, Italian whites, and Prosecco for a little sparkle. Order by Nov. 17 to receive in time to start your Christmas countdown on schedule, but be aware it may sell out a lot sooner than that.Buy Now
12 Nights of Wine, $129 from Vinebox
Vinebox
This year, wine subscription service Vinebox is offering a “Home for the Holidays” version of their popular wine advent calendar. It contains 12 glasses of wine (a mix of red and white…and potentially a surprise winter rosé) expertly curated from all over Europe, in a sleek, sophisticated package to boot. Drink one every night (or day) to wind down 2020, or give it as a sure-to-be-appreciated gift.Buy Now
ALDI Merry & Bright Wine Advent Calendar, $69.99 from ALDI
ALDI
If you’re near an ALDI, they’re also bringing back their cult-favorite wine advent calendar for 2020, in stores on Nov. 4. It features a mix of red, white, and bubbly in 24 mini bottles. Look out for several other advent calendars in store too, including ones for beer, hard seltzer, chocolate, cheese, and both cat and dog treats—you can pretty much check off everyone on your list!See More
Flaviar Whiskey Advent Calendar, $225 from Flaviar
Flaviar
For those who prefer their good cheer in stronger liquid form, this calendar serves up 24 samples of whiskey from around the world, plus a Glencairn glass, Flaviar coaster, and tasting notes for everything you’ll be sipping.Buy Now
24 Days of Tea Advent Calendar, $50 from DAVIDsTEA
DAVIDsTEA
Tea lovers, look no further. This bright and cheerful advent calendar is filled with 24 different flavors to brew up fresh excitement each day this December. There’s a mix of old favorites, new holiday flavors, and web exclusives, including festive blends like Winter Earl Grey, Candy Cane Crush, Gingerbread Blondie, and Chocolate Chili Chai.Buy Now
24 Days of Matcha Advent Calendar, $65 from DAVIDsTEA
DAVIDsTEA
If it’s matcha that makes you merry, this one will have you seeing (and sipping) green. It hides a mix of high-quality green tea blends as well as green tea-infused treats like matcha honey, chocolate, and even vegan matcha gummies shaped like alligators.Buy Now
Palais des Thés Advent Calendar, $32 from Food52
Food52
If your tea devotee is also a Francophile, snap up this advent calendar from Parisian tea company Palais des Thés. You get 24 different teas so you can enjoy a warm cup every morning leading up to Christmas. Naturally, the red and gold design is tres chic too.Buy Now
Fortnum & Mason Tea Advent Calendar, $56.95 from Williams Sonoma
Williams Sonoma
Not to be outdone, this British brand also offers a cozy calendar with 24 different rare teas inside, including classic options like Earl Grey and more unique offerings like Gin and Tonic Green Tea and Apricot, Honey & Lavender Infusion.Buy Now
Yawn Coffee Advent Calendar, $57.38 from Etsy
Tea Revv / Etsy
If you or your lucky gift recipient prefers java to tea, this compact package holds 24 different craft coffees (ground or whole bean) to jolt you into a jolly mood—but they also offer a tea advent calendar of their own, as well as a hot cocoa advent calendar for those who want to wind down with a cozy cup of chocolate.Buy Now
DIY (or BYOB) Beer Advent Calendar, $29.99 from Etsy
Craft Advent Box / Etsy
If you have a Costco near you, just like ALDI, they’re selling beer advent calendars (and wine advent calendars too). But if that’s not an option, order a cheery DIY advent calendar beer box on Etsy, then fill it with your own hand-picked bottles and cans. Or, get crafty and build your own beer advent calendar from scratch! You’ve got plenty of time if you start now.Buy Now
Advent Calendars We Hope to See Again in 2020
There are even more advent calendars we enjoyed last year, and we have our fingers crossed most of them will come back in 2020—since it’s still a little early, no news is good news, but we’ll be sure to update as soon as there’s more information (one way or another) on these options:
Jerky Advent Calendar, $79.99 from Man Crates
Man Crates
What goes better with wine and cheese than cured meat? This advent calendar contains 25 different flavors of jerky, from honey bourbon and whiskey maple to garlic and Sriracha flavors—most made from beef, with some more exotic varieties including elk, bison, wild boar, venison, and alligator in the mix. It’s sure to herald a merry, meaty Christmas for your favorite carnivore, so beef sticks crossed it’ll be back soon.Buy Now
Spirits Advent Calendar, $59 from Heritage Distilling Co.
Heritage Distilling Co.
Boozy advent calendars are in no short supply, but this one was practically a mini bar cart: The 2019 version contained a variety of bourbons (including a brown sugar bourbon that tastes like cookies), rye whiskey, gin, and a few flavored vodkas (lavender, huckleberry, and blood orange). Unfortunately, supply issues mean it won’t be back for 2020—but you can snag mini sampler packs of their delicious spirits and package them up in your own advent calendar.Buy Now
DIY Booze Advent Calendar, $19.99 from Amazon
Consider buying one of these and adding your own mini bottles (and maybe some cocktail snacks and accessories) to the empty spaces inside.
Bosco & Roxy’s Bark the Halls Dog Treat Advent Calendar, $24.99 from World Market
World Market
This dog treat advent calendar hides 24 handmade applesauce and peanut dog biscuits to delight your fur-child; here’s hoping we can fetch these again in 2020. (Not to be outdone, Trader Joe’s sold advent calendars for cats last year, and we definitely hope those claw their way to comeback too.)Buy Now
For more great gift ideas, see our Gourmet Food and Drink Gift Guide, and our Best Kitchen Gadgets, Tools, and Appliances Gift Guide.
And see our sister sites’ tech gift guides, gaming gift guides, fashion and beauty gift guides, and TV gift guides. ET also rounded up the best beauty advent calendar options for 2020.
For Everyone Else on Your List
Header image courtesy of Harry & David
