THE festive period hasn't truly begun until that first morning chocolate meets your lips. There's nothing like a Christmassy sugar rush to start the day.
Yes, there are beauty, toy and even alcohol versions available in 2022, but the best chocolate advent calendars will forever be a firm favourite.
Ok so, you might be here to shop for your kids but in our opinion, you're never too old to enjoy a classic advent calendar throughout December.
Our only advice is to get yours early: popular ones always sell out and you don't want to be giving your kids (or yourself) a boring one that tastes bland.
Here's our selection of the best chocolate advent calendars on the market for 2022. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
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Moo Free White Chocolate Advent Calendar
- Moo Free White Chocolate Advent Calendar, £3.99 from Ocado – buy here
A vegan white chocolate calendar that contains a choccy a day for the 24 days up to Christmas Eve.
The cocoa used in this chocolate is Rainforest Alliance Certified, which means you’re helping support farmers and sustainable farming. There’s no palm oil, no soya and no gluten, as well as no dairy, and the factories are guaranteed free from all of these.
PLAYin CHOC Advent Calendar
- PLAYin CHOC Advent Calendar, £47.39 from Amazon – buy here
This calendar is ideal if your child suffers from allergies, as it’s dairy, nut and gluten-free.
The chocolate is made from single origin Peruvian cacao, which is ethically and sustainably sourced, and from organic Madagascan bourbon vanilla, organic creamed coconut and organic coconut sugar.
Each of the 24 doors opens to reveal a mini chocolate bar, a 3-D puzzle and a fact card, so there’s play value built in as well – a great idea to keep them busy in the wait for Santa.
The calendar is also plastic-free and the outer sleeve can be opened up to create a play scene for the toys.
Also available in a 12-door version.
MyVegan Advent Calendar
- MyVegan Advent Calendar, £74.99 – buy here
You go to the gym, you’re into keeping fit, you love chocolate – what are you to do, especially with so much festive indulgence to tempt you?
The MyVegan calendar could be the answer. It contains a mix of vegan protein chocolate treats, including caramel latte double dough brownie, double choc and peanut butter filled cookie, choc chip baked cookie and the vegan carb crusher.
Popcorn Shed Gourmet Popcorn Advent Calendar
- Popcorn Shed Gourmet Popcorn Advent Calendar, £25 – buy here
Why not ring the changes with this popcorn advent calendar?
There’s 24 bags of popcorn in a range of flavours, including Pop N Choc, Cookies & Cream, and Belgian chocolate-covered Salted Caramel.
Suitable for vegetarians – and there’s also a vegan version available.
H!P Oat Milk Advent Calendar
- H!P Oat Milk Advent Calendar, £9.99 from Amazon – buy here
No need to miss out on the Christmas tradition of eating lots of chocolate just because you’re vegan. Try this oat milk offering from Happiness in Plants with its four varieties: original, gingerbread, white and salted caramel – yum!
The packaging is plastic-free, so recyclable, and the brand prides itself on its sustainability.
Monty Bojangles Magnificent Luxury Advent Calendar
- Monty Bojangles Magnificent Luxury Advent Calendar, £20.99 from Amazon – buy here
Chocoholics are going to love this indulgent advent calendar from award winning truffle creator Monty Bojangles.
Each of the 24 doors hides a delicious chocolate to take you up to Christmas. Ganaches, pralines, dark truffles, caramels and more get you in the festive mood, while for Christmas Eve there’s an extra special treat with four chocolates to savour.
Hotel Chocolat The Grand Advent Calendar
- The Grand Advent Calendar, £75 from Hotel Chocolat – buy here
Hotel Chocolat is certainly going all-out with its deluxe Christmas calendar for 2022.
If you’re lucky enough to get your hands on this one, you’ll be counting down in luxury with an amazing assortment of goodies including Cinnamon Bun truffles, chocolate slabs, caramel puddles, mini chocolate crackers, posh hot chocolate and even little bottles of cocoa-flavoured spirits (not advised at breakfast time).
It’s an investment, but December mornings will never be as sweet.
M&S Percy Pig Advent Calendar
- M&S Percy Pig Advent Calendar, £5 from Ocado - buy here
A favourite of kids and grown ups alike, Percy Pig has become a bit of a phenomenon and now here he is in his very own advent calendar.
There are 24 cute milk chocolate treats then for the big day itself, a packet of Percy Pig fruit flavour sweets.
What's not to like!
Cadbury Santa's Workshop Advent Calendar
- 3D advent calendar, £10 from Cadbury – buy here
Don’t let the lack of a free wall to lean it on stop you from getting an advent calendar because Cadbury's calendar this year is 3D so stand up all by itself.
Not only that, but it’s packed full of your Cadbury favourites.
Without opening the doors, we can’t say for sure which ones, but there’s bound to be a Freddo in there somewhere.
Whittard The Hot Chocolate Advent Calendar for Two
- Hot chocolate advent calendar for two, £70 from Whittard – buy here
There’s just so much that’s right with the idea of a hot chocolate advent calendar for two.
Firstly, it’s for two, so there’s no need to share it with your other half – result.
And then there’s the fact that it’s hot chocolate: if you manage to hold off until the end of the day, you can treat yourself to a nightly nightcap of one of Whittard’s dessert-like hot chocolate flavours including luxury white, Rocky Road, Salted Caramel, Sticky Toffee Pudding, Raspberry Ripple and more.
It’s got cosy nights in written all over it.
Montezumas Advent Calendar Like No Udder
- Like No Udder advent calendar, £11.99 from Montezuma – buy here
Whether your child is gluten-intolerant or is going vegan, they don’t have to miss out on the fun of opening an advent calendar door every day in December with this milk chocolate alternative calendar.
The 24 chocolates contained in Montezuma’s Like No Udder advent calendar are creamily smooth with a high cocoa content, in fact they’re as close as you can get to the real thing.
They’re also free from colourings and preservatives and come in fully recyclable packaging.
Now that’s something to celebrate.
Maltesers Reindeer Chocolate Christmas Advent Calendar
- Maltesers Reindeer Chocolate Christmas Advent Calendar, £2 from Asda – buy here
Kids will love this chocolate advent calendar from family favourite Maltesers.
There’s a milk chocolate treat each day, then on Christmas Eve, a mini reindeer – just enough to build anticipation and excitement for the arrival of Santa Claus himself.
Hotel Chocolat The Everything Advent Calendar
- The Everything Advent Calendar, £27.50 from Hotel Chocolat – buy here
If variety is what you look for in a chocolate advent calendar, then Hotel Chocolat’s might be the one for you this year.
Every door hides one of the finest treats from the iconic range: from Champagne Truffle to Raspberry Smoothie. This luxury calendar is one to savour and enjoy, and is for anyone wanting a beautifully created daily treat in the run-up to Christmas. Are you even sure you’ll be able to hang onto it until December?
Godiva Advent Calendar
- Advent Calendar, £27 from Godiva - buy here
For a delicious start to your December mornings, Godiva's advent calendar is a winning choice.
The santa, snowman and penguin figures are made of Belgian chocolate – think milk chocolate ganache, rich dark chocolate with vanilla ganache and white chocolate filled with hazelnut praline.
We don't know about you, but our mouth's watering.
Fortnum & Mason Truffle Selection Advent Calendar
Why not treat yourself to a little decadence with this year's Chocolate Truffle Selection Advent Calendar from Fortnum & Mason.
With 24 truffles each providing their own bit of festive luxury, December promises to be magical.
Flavours range from Christmas Spice Butter Biscuit to Marc de Champagne - heaven!
Awards Winning Limited Edition Vegan Advent Calendar
- Awards Winning Limited Edition Vegan Advent Calendar, £30 from NotOnTheHighstreet - buy here
Have you ever seen chocolates look this pretty? The Awards Winning Limited Edition Vegan Advent Calendar is extra special.
For £30, you receive 24 different flavours of chocolate, from mulled wine to golden milk and Madagascan vanilla, all from different countries.
Throughout December, wherever you are in the world, you'll have a taste of Guatemala, Egypt, Indonesia, Bulgaria, Thailand, Japan, Vietnam and more.
Lindt Teddy Shaped Advent Calendar
- Lindt Teddy Shaped Advent Calendar 310g, £15 from - Ocado buy here
N'aww, who doesn't love a teddy-shaped advent calendar?
This cute calendar is filled with a selection of Lindt milk chocolates from the original Master Chocolatiers, with a gift tag that lets you know this is definitely a calendar to treat someone special to (although we wouldn't judge if you pick one up for yourself, too).
Buy it as an early Christmas gift and we predict guaranteed smiles all around.
Tony's Chocolonely Countdown Fairtrade Calendar
- Tony's Chocolonely Countdown Fairtrade Calendar, £13 from Ocado - buy here
If you know about Tony's, then you know about their deliciously rich chocolate.
Their fairtrade advent calendar has teeny tiny Tony's bites behind each door.
From nougat to caramel and popping candy, every flavour is as yummy as the next.
Nomo Vegan Advent Calendar
- NomoVegan Advent Calendar, £5 from Holland & Barrett - buy here
No need to miss out on the advent fun if you're vegan because there's a good selection of vegan calendars available, including this one from milk-free favourite Nomo.
It has 24 vegan chocolate treats to take you up to the big day. It's also gluten-free.
Thorntons Milk Chocolate Santa Advent Calendar
- Milk Chocolate Santa Advent Calendar, £6 from Thorntons - buy here
Thorntons needs no introduction. It's a British classic and who doesn't love its chocolate.
Unlike a lot of advent calendars, this one goes up to 25 so you receive a chocolate treat on Christmas Day.
This version also comes with a milk chocolate tag that for an extra £2, you can have iced with the name of the person you're giving the calendar to!
Henry the Harrods Bear Chocolate Advent Calendar
- Henry Bear Chocolate Advent Calendar, £15 from Harrods - buy here
This cute calendar from Harrods is sure to be loved by little kids and big kids alike.
Featuring Henry the Harrods bear, it's filled with yummy milk and white chocolates.
Go on, treat yourself to a little luxury this Christmas!
The Chocolate Gift Company Silent Night Advent Calendar
- The Chocolate Gift Company Silent Night Advent Calendar, £38 from Antropologie - buy here
If you enjoy the finer things in life, like luxurious truffles, then you can't miss this advent calendar by The Chocolate Gift Company.
Flavours range from hazelnut and orange, to champagne and churros.
It might be a little more pricey than your average at £38, but it doubles as a gorgeous Christmas decoration because the design is so beautiful.
Kinder Bueno Advent Calendar
- Kinder Bueno Advent Calendar, £6 from Asda - buy here
You guessed it, the Kinder Bueno Advent Calendar is filled with a selection of your favourite Kinder goodies.
There's a chocolate for every day of December up to Christmas, culminating in a full siz bar on Christmas Eve!
If you love Kinder Buenos as much as we do, it's an obvious choice.
Anthon Berg 24 Days Chocolate Liqueur Advent Calendar
- Liqueur chocolate advent calendar, £21.40 from Amazon – buy here
“A toast to celebrate the holidays” announces the packaging of the Anthon Berg advent calendar, and what a way to celebrate, with 24 of the Danish chocolate brand’s dinky bottle-shaped liqueur chocolates.
With festive flavours including The Famous Grouse, Cointreau, Grand Marnier, Licor 43 and Drambuie, it’ll be a very merry one indeed.
And the best part is that the kids can’t have them.
Nestle Milkybar Advent Calendar
- Nestle Milkybar Advent Calendar 85g, £2 from Sainsbury's - buy here
A favourite of kids and grown ups, Milkybar has been around since 1937!
Their advent calendar doesn't disappoint, with 24 delicious white chocolate treats to take you up to Christmas.
Ideal for kids of all ages – and at just £2, you can't go wrong.
Lindt Milk Chocolate Advent Calendar
- Lindt 160g milk chocolate advent calendar, £6 from Amazon – buy here
Lindt lovers will be delighted with the festive variety behind the doors of this calendar: a mixture of 24 favourites, including Lindor mini truffles, snowdrops, napolitains, Santa and of course, a Lindt reindeer.
What a way to welcome Christmas!
Cocoapod Dark Chocolate Christmas Advent Calendar
- Cocoapod Dark Chocolate Christmas Advent Calendar, £35 from Not On The Highstreet – buy here
This is definitely one for the grown-ups. Luxurious handmade Belgian chocolate discs – one for each day of December leading up to and including Christmas Eve.
Not sure about trying to hang up this calendar though, perhaps one that’s better displayed on the coffee table.
House of Dorchester Milk Chocolate Advent Slims, Pack of 25
- House of Dorchester Milk Chocolate Advent Slims, Pack of 25, £13 from John Lewis - buy here
Not quite an advent calendar, but featuring 25 numbered chocolates all the same, the House of Dorchester Milk Chocolate Advent Slims are pretty enough to have on display.
Each chocolate is wrapped in festive artwork, from reindeers wearing bobble hats, to skiing polar bears.
They're bigger than advent chocolates too, so that's definitely a plus.
Pip & Nut Vegan Advent Calendar
- Nut Butter Cup Advent Calendar, £20 from Pip & Nut – buy here
This peanut and almond butter cup advent calendar is ideal for vegetarians and vegans, with 24 treats to take you up to Christmas Eve.
The dark chocolate is single origin Colombian and ethically sourced. What’s more, for every calendar sold, Pip & Nut will donate three jars of peanut butter to their local food bank in Hackney.
Laderach Classic Kids Advent Calendar
- Classic Kids Advent Calendar, £42.50 from Laderach – buy here
Delicious pralines, Swiss chocolate and sweet mini chocolate figures offer a treat each day in this children’s advent calendar from Laderach. Little kids – and not so little kids – will love this touch of luxury in the run up to Christmas.
Cocoba Chocolate Christmas Hot Chocolate Advent Calendar
- Christmas Hot Chocolate Advent Calendar, £59.95 from Cocoba Chocolate – buy here
There’s nothing nicer after a cold Christmas walk than a mug full of steaming hot chocolate. This advent calendar supplies not only the chocolate to drink, but chocolate flakes, spoons and bombes filled with mini marshmallows as well, to create the ultimate hot chocolate experience.
How much are the best chocolate advent calendars?
It's pretty much up to you how much – or how little – you spend on an advent calendar.
Prices can start from as low as £2 for a basic calendar (great for the kids) or £20 and upwards for something more luxury, supersized or personalised.
And of course, don't forget that if you wait a little while into December, you're likely to pick up a bargain when stores begin to reduce their advent calendars.
Where to buy the best chocolate advent calendars?
Supermarkets and chocolatiers all stock a variety of branded and own-brand advent calendars, making it super-easy to pick one up during your usual shop on the high street. For something a little more luxurious, head to department stores like Selfridges, Fortnum & Mason and John Lewis – you'll be guaranteed to find something truly decadent.
For quirkier options, we love websites like Not On The High Street, where you can expect to find a large variety of options heading into December.
What to look for in a chocolate advent calendar
There are so many different types of chocolate advent calendars: it all depends on if you're a no-frills kind of countdown-eater, or after something that's a little fancier and impressive!
Personally, we love the luxury of opening a chocolate each morning that feels a little decadent. It's what Christmas is all about, right?
For quality chocolates, look for high grade "fine flavour cocoa" as opposed to low grade "bulk cocoa", along with pure flavouring such aa cane sugar and vanilla pod flavouring instead of refined ingredients. Cheap chocolates will also tend to use vegetable fats like palm oil, rather than cocoa butter, and will generally have a lower percentage of cocoa. Keep all of this in mind as you shop – and of course, choose a calendar that appeals to you in design, too. It's all part of the fun!
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