The best Advent calendars in the US: 19 unique picks for a delightful Christmas countdown

Once the Halloween decorations have been put away, my house immediately transforms into holiday mode. While some may think it’s too soon to bust out the twinkly lights and tinsel, I love the winter holiday season so much that my Thanksgiving dinner isn’t complete without a fully bedecked Douglas fir and soft jazz in the background. If you also savor the season – or know someone who does – Advent calendars are a fun way to elevate every day with a new surprise, whether that’s an exotic new coffee to start the day, a sweet treat for the afternoon, or a premixed nightcap to wind down with. As a yuletide aficionado, I’ve tried plenty over the years, and these are some of my favorites for adults, kids – and kids at heart. *** The best advent calendars in the US for 2025 Edible treats Bonne Maman 2025 Limited Edition Advent Calendar $49.99 at MoMA Design Store $49.99 at World Market As a devotee to Bonne Maman’s extraordinary strawberry jam, I look forward to this Advent calendar every year. The included 24 spreads range in flavors including fig and cardamom, Italian mandarin, plum and pear, raspberry and lychee, and milk caramel – just to name a few. Each 1oz (28g) jar is more than enough for a few pieces of toast or stirring into plain yogurt, brightening up breakfast all month long. *** See’s Candy Advent Calendar $80 at See’s Candies Receiving a classic See’s Candies assortment has always been a special treat in my household, and this calendar is no different. It features 24 different selections from See’s vast catalog of confections, from cashew brittle to dark chocolate scotchmallows, and peanut nougat to dark chocolate salted caramel. Impressively high-quality but still reasonably priced, it is sure to thrill all ages of chocolate lovers. *** Dandelion Chocolate 2025 Advent Calendar $328 at Dandelion Chocolate This luxurious, lunar-themed advent calendar from San Francisco’s Dandelion Chocolate contains 25 varieties of handcrafted artisan chocolates from across North America. Each individually wrapped piece is tucked into a beautiful ornament box, illustrated by Belgian artist Lina Kusaite, that can be hung from your tree. A stunning gift for those who appreciate gourmet flavor combinations, art, and stories and science about the moon. *** Walker’s Shortbread 2025 Limited Edition Advent Calendar $29.99 at World Market $31.99 at Walker’s Shortbread This calendar from Walker’s is all about one of Scotland’s greatest culinary traditions: shortbread cookies. Hidden behind each door are one of six varieties of these rich biscuits in different shapes, made with simple ingredients, including real butter. Suitable for vegetarians and certified Kosher (OUD), it is a tasty way to countdown to Noel. *** Lakrids by Bülow 2025 Candy Advent Calendar $69.99 at Lakrids by Bülow $69.99 at Amazon The Scandinavian love for black liquorice isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but the assortment in this calendar from Lakrids might change some minds. Each door opens to reveal two pieces of liquorice candy with caramel, chocolate, and fruit flavors, and for purists, a few classic soft black liquorice. Produced in Copenhagen, this limited edition set is also gluten and gelatin-free, and is made with sustainable packaging. *** XO 2025 Holiday Marshmallow Advent Calendar $59.95 at XO Marshmallow This Nutcracker-themed Advent calendar from XO elevates the simple marshmallow to 25 whimsical holiday treats. Much more than just a topper for a cup of hot cocoa, these 1.25in marshmallow squares are light and fluffy, sometimes laced with cinnamon, peppermint or a variety of fruit flavors. Gluten- and egg-free, these marshmallows are made without high-fructose corn syrup or preservatives – excellent for kids and adults alike. *** Fly By Jing 2025 Limited Edition Advent Calendar $98 at Fly By Jing (Sold out) Advent calendars largely skew sweet, but if spicy and savory are more your jam, this calendar from Fly By Jing has got you covered. It features the brand’s signature Sichuan chili crisp but also includes a secret selection of noodles and other chili-based Chinese-style condiments. Pick this up for anyone who enjoys a little heat in their food (it’s vegan-friendly, too!). Editor’s note: This year’s Fly By Jing calendar has already sold out, but Tilz Collection makes a hot sauce calendar that may scratch the same itch. We haven’t tried it, but the reviews suggest it offers a great variety. $41.99 at Amazon *** Sippable treats Flaviar’s Whisky Advent Calendar $299 at Flaviar As someone who enjoys fine whisky but lacks the space for a truly comprehensive collection, I look forward to this splurge-worthy calendar every year. It features one 50ml whiskey sample for the 24 days leading up to Christmas Eve, from around the world – China, Japan, Scotland, Ireland, France and the US – complete with a “tasting passport” and two collectible Glencairn glasses. *** Ole Smoky 12 Days of Moonshine Minis Holiday Pack $32.99 at Taster’s Club $39.99 at The Liquor Bros Keep holiday spirits high with this set of 12 moonshine minis from Tennessee distiller Ole Smoky. This calendar contains a dozen 50ml samples of some of the brand’s best sellers, including the original 100-proof version (it’s no joke). This assortment also includes enticing flavors including banana pudding, apple pie and sour watermelon – delicious and surprisingly smooth versions of moonshine that will appeal to a wide variety of palates. *** Straightaway Cocktails 12 Nights of Cocktails $59.95 at Straightaway Cocktails This cute calendar from Straightaway features ready-to-drink versions of a dozen classic bar favorites. Hidden behind the olive sword adorned doors are 100ml cans of a veritable cocktail list, including two types of margaritas, an old-fashioned, a mai tai, and an espresso martini. Just pop the top and pour over ice for a well-crafted, convenient cocktail for your evening merry-making. *** Vinebox 12 Nights of Wine Calendar $129 at Vinebox Both wine experts and newbies will appreciate the variety of wines from Italy, France, Spain, Germany, California, Oregon and Washington in this Advent calendar from Vinebox. Whether you’re into light and bright or bold and robust styles, each set includes 100ml pours with sommelier-led virtual tasting videos to accompany each wine. If you can’t decide between the two, spring for the 24 Nights version to try them all. *** Silver Bridge Ultimate Coffee Advent Calendar $94.99 at Silver Bridge Coffee Brighten up the mornings leading up to Christmas with this calendar from Silver Bridge Coffee, a boutique roaster based out of Ohio. This festive assortment includes 24 pouches of assorted flavored and single-origin grinds, including a spendy 100% Kona coffee. If you prefer your coffee unflavored, opt for their Single Origin & Blends Coffee 24 Day Advent Calendar instead. *** Palais des Thés Tea Advent Calendar 2025 $39.90 at Macy’s Paris-based tea house Palais des Thés offers a glimpse of their in-house expertise in this well-curated calendar. There are 24 different brews to explore, from gentle herbal blends to rare single-estate teas, including Joie: a cozy holiday tea made with green tea, roasted buckwheat and almond. The QR codes throughout the calendar lead to audio stories that regale the legends, history and traditions of tea from around the world. *** Beauty picks Amazon Beauty Advent Calendar $98 at Amazon This beauty Advent calendar delivers a fantastic collection of viral products at a surprisingly great value. Four mini and eight full-sized products make up the 12-day assortment, featuring a few goodies from K-beauty brands Medicube and Laneige, alongside favorite finds from OPI, Sunday Riley, Milk Makeup, and a full size of the iconic Clinique Black Honey Almost Lipstick. *** Typology Advent Calendar 2025 $279.90 at Typology This minimalist calendar from Typology centers on what French beauty experts consider the most important area of focus: skincare. With 13 full-sized items included in the 24-piece assortment, you can explore a wide variety of products from the range; the array of serums alone is impressive. A castor-oil-infused mascara, tinted lip oils, glow drops and a color corrector for redness (my personal favorite) round out the collection for an effortlessly polished makeup look. *** Liberty Men’s Advent Calendar 2025 $345 at Liberty This calendar from Liberty of London is a dream gift for men who appreciate luxury self-care products. Out of the 25 products included, 14 of them are full-sized, including The Cream by Augustinus Bader, Dermalogica’s cleansing gel, and the ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment from Kate Somerville. It also comes in a women’s version that includes 20 full-sized beauty favorites from Sisley, La Mer, Trish McEvoy and more. *** For kids Lego Friends Advent Calendar $25.49 at Target $29.99 at Kohl’s For kids who can’t get enough Lego year-round, this 237-piece Advent calendar is one of a few from the brand. Each drawer reveals mini dolls, their pets, sleeping bags and other accessories to build out a festive sleepover scene. Day by day, characters can participate in traditional Christmas activities, such as writing to Santa, making hot chocolate, assembling toys and of course putting up a tree with presents underneath. *** Meri Meri Festive Village Wooden Advent Calendar $52 at Gatherings by Curated Paperie $55 at Amazon This adorable calendar features a stack of trays with numbered doors, hiding wooden pieces to be assembled into reusable holiday decor. From pine trees to reindeer, houses, a sleigh, a snowman, and Santa and his elves, you can create an entire Christmas village scene for displaying on a mantel or bookshelf. The best part is that you can use it over and over again, tucking it back into its suitcase-shaped storage until next year. *** National Geographic Science Kit & Rock Collection Advent Calendar $37.64 at Amazon Related: 10 international kitchen staples most Americans haven’t caught on to yet For the child who has shown an interest in Stem, this calendar will delight and awe with 11 specimens and 13 kid-safe experiments hidden behind its doors. Polished chevron amethyst, snowflake obsidian, and tiger’s eye (and more) are just some of the gemstones they will add to their collection, but the real stunner is the final day’s specimen: pyrite (aka Fool’s gold) that needs to be unearthed from a brick. *** Bernadette Machard de Gramont is a freelance food, wine and lifestyle writer who has spent more time than she’ll admit testing kitchen gadgets, perfecting a “no makeup makeup” look, and seeking the perfect carry-on suitcase. A Francophile/Francophone with a practical streak, she writes about everything from cookware to cultural quirks with equal enthusiasm