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There are two things I look forward to during the holiday season: rewatching the Rankin-Bass Claymation Christmas movies, and ripping into a chocolate Advent calendar. Having a massive sweet tooth is a core component of my personality, and getting a little treat (or two, or three) every day in December is a huge motivator while I’m trying to simultaneously triage my apocalyptic inbox and plan my annual Christmas vacation. The truth is, I usually keep more than one Christmas Advent calendar in my house, so I don’t have to fight my husband for the delicious chocolate that hides behind each little cardboard door. Keep reading to learn more about the best chocolate Advent calendars, including some nostalgia-inducing classics.
La Maison du Chocolat
My all-time favorite chocolate Advent calendar comes from La Maison du Chocolat, a storied French chocolatier that specializes in pralines. The 2023 calendar is designed to look like a very chic snowflake, and comes with a ribbon loop, so you can hang it on your wall (or a very sturdy Christmas tree). Each day comes with one or two expertly crafted gourmet chocolate treats.
Venchi
Italian chocolatier Venchi has been making confections since 1878, so it’s safe to say it knows a thing or two about truffles and chocolate bars. Venchi’s Prestige Advent Calendar comes with an assortment of 31 chocolate truffles and bonbons—you might even get one of BA contributor Lauren Corona’s favorite hazelnut chocolates.
Lakrids by Bulow
Okay, I know this is technically a licorice Advent calendar, but it comes with a lot of chocolate-covered licorice, and it’s some of the best our team has ever had. Even self-avowed licorice haters will probably find something to love in this elegant black-and-gold Advent calendar, which comes with a wide variety of chocolate-coated licorice confections, as well as a few classic sweet and salty licorice flavors.
Lindt Bear & Friends
Give me any animal-shaped Lindt chocolate, and I’m a happy person. Give me 24 days worth of different animal-shaped Lindy chocolates, and I’ll be your best friend for life. The Bear & Friends Advent calendar comes with tiny hollow reindeers and teddy bears, Lindt truffles, and a full-size hollow bear on Christmas Eve.
Cadbury Heroes Christmas Adventure
If you grew up “across the pond” or simply have an Anglophile streak, you’ll love this fun Cadbury Advent calendar. It comes with an assortment of mini chocolate bars that can be hard to find in the US, like Wispas and Twirls.
Kinder Joy
Perhaps you have kids in your household or a partner with whom you do not intend to share your chocolate Advent calendar. This is where the Kinder Joy Advent Calendar comes in. At just $16 for a pack of two, it’s extremely reasonable to buy one for each person you live with. It comes with a variety of Kinder Joy candies, including its iconic mini eggs.
Reese’s Christmas Countdown
This one is extremely straightforward: You get a different mini Reese’s peanut butter cup every day in December. It comes with milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and white chocolate peanut butter cups, and the calendar has a sort of Influencer Santa design. This Advent calendar isn’t reinventing the genre, but it doesn’t have to, because Reese’s cups are already perfect.
Godiva Advent Calendar
Godiva was my gateway into gourmet chocolate, and I still have a serious soft spot for their decadent chocolate pralines and truffles. This year’s calendar has a simple snow globe design, and comes with an assortment of 12 different confections—so you’ll have two chances to open your favorite. At $45, it's the perfect midpoint between high-end and affordable.
