The Advent calendar phenomenon is growing every year, with many exciting, fun, beautiful and delicious options available. In the catering area alone, there really is something for everyone. Prices range from impulse buy to extravagant purchase. If you’re looking to wow a relative or friend (or treat your own family) with 12 to 24 days of pure fun, then don’t miss out this holiday season. These limited edition calendars can sell out quickly!

Chocolate

If you know an Advent calendar fan who loves chocolate, you have so many great choices! The Compartés Winter Foxes Chocolate Advent Calendar is beautiful, a winter wonderland with playful foxes and festive scenery. Behind the little doors, you’ll find chocolates with innovative flavors like cinnamon bread, blackberry crumble and gooey caramel. $109.95.

Bean-to-Bar chocolate maker Dandelion Chocolate designed its impressive calendar in homage to the constellations, including a star wheel to identify what you can see in the night sky. There are 24 decorations, each containing a chocolate from an artisan chocolatier in the United States. Each decoration is accompanied by a story about the astral events of the day of the month. Chocolate and astronomy, what a nice pairing. $185.

Delysia Chocolatier’s theme this year is Ultimate Cookie Swap with 25 artisan chocolate truffles inspired by seasonal cookies. Flavors include beloved classics like gingerbread and snickerdoodle, as well as unexpected treats like hamantaschen and pizzelle. $79.95.

Tony’s Chocoloney Countdown Calendar has the same graphic appeal as its candy wrapper, with bright, happy colors. The 25 “Tony’s Tinys” include Dark Chocolate Almond Hazelnut Milk Chocolate Sea Salt, Dark Milk Pretzel Caramel and more. $19.99.

Candy

See’s 2024 Advent Calendar features 24 days of premium See sweets, from truffles to their famous lollipops and more, nestled in a charming winter home. Sturdy sliding drawers provide easy access to candy and whimsical pop-up illustrations that unfold like an enchanting storybook. $75.

With the Sugarwish Advent Calendar you have several options. You can choose your treat assortment from an array of candy choices (think M&M’s, Swedish fish, gumballs, etc.). You can also send someone a calendar as a gift online and let them choose their own treats. $79.

If you know a licorice lover, you’re about to rock their world. The Lakrids by Bülow Danish Gourmet Licorice Calendar is a unique collection of classic varieties mixed with limited edition flavors of chocolate covered licorice, all made in Copenhagen. Inspired flavors include Frozen Mint, Salt & Caramel, Double Chocolate and Milkshake. $59.99.

If your kitchen turns into a holiday baking hub this December, then Sweetapolita’s magical 24 days of decorative sprinkles and candies are for you. A beautiful pink box contains 24 little drawers, each filled with a jar of adorable sprinkles. Each calendar comes in a personalized cotton drawstring bag, making it an extra gift. $99.

Dylan’s Candy Bar offers two choices ranging from a huge countdown candy tree with a glitter tree and a stand with 24 shiny round ornaments filled with seasonal candy ($110) to a small tree-shaped box with small perforated doors hiding 24 little holiday treats. $10.

Snacks

Cheese virtuoso Murray’s has his 12 Days of Cheese Advent Calendar, the perfect gift for the turophile (cheese lover) in your life. It contains a multitude of items, including nine cheeses, oatcakes and mini jams. You need to store it in the fridge, but who wouldn’t want a ready-made gratin board in the fridge for the holidays? $78

Uncommon Goods has many affordable options, such as 12 Days of Gourmet Nuts. Each small, reusable 2-ounce can has a different flavor or nut mix to enjoy, like Salted Pistachios, Honey Sea Salt Almonds, Cranberry Mixed Walnuts, and Curried Walnut Peanuts coconut. $55

12 Days of Hot Sauce is for the heat lover in your life (and we all have one). Twelve little bottles of liquid heat range from mild to tangy, sweet to savory, and will turn up the heat all month long. Flavors include Sweet Onion Habanero, Garlic Reaper, Plum Reaper, Chipotle BBQ and Smoked Horseradish. $55

If you really want to impress or gift a family a calendar, go big! The Best of Harry & David Advent Calendar is not one but two festively themed boxes with snacks ranging from their famous Royal Riviera Pear, Moose Munch Premium Popcorn varieties, Tree Shaped Pretzels peppermint topped with yogurt and blackberry pancakes. $199.99

Drinks

For tea lovers, try a collection of 24 best-selling teas and infusions from Palais de Thes for $38, or 12 days of Harney & Sons teas for $29.95.

Coffee lovers will love Onyx Coffee Lab’s journey through the world of specialty coffee with a 24-day bean exploration. One box opens to reveal an accordion containing 24 packs of whole, single-origin coffee from around the world – beans ready to be ground and brewed. $175.

Flaviar presents a substantial trunk-inspired box with premium whiskey samples along with 2 collectible and exclusive Glencairn glasses. Journey through the world of whiskey for 24 days with Starward Nova Single Malt from Australia and Sekk Sato Shiki from Japan, plus numerous bourbon offerings from the United States, including Haven Hill, Jaywalk, Rye and Milam & Greene Triple Cask. Includes interactive tasting notes. $250.

A company called Give Them Beer is offering you the chance to gift someone…. well, yes, 12 days of beer. But also, 12 days of jerky, 12 days of bourbon, 12 days of red wine, 12 days of moonshine and many other treats intended for adults. Prices start at $80 and up, and there are 24-day options as well.

One last international offering: Tokyo Treat Slice of Japan: 24 Days of Adventure Advent Calendar transports you to the land of the Rising Sun. Inspired by slice-of-life manga, this Advent calendar includes Japan-exclusive treats like Matcha Latte and Peach KitKats, as well as animated collectibles, figurines and keychains. $150.

Oh, and for those celebrating Hanukkah? No need to miss out on fun. Harry and David give an 8 Nights of Hanukkah gift, a cute Star of David shaped box containing treats like gelt coins, macaron brownies, and cinnamon donut muffins. $109.99.

So how will you choose the countdown to the holidays? These calendars make truly thoughtful gifts (and how many other gifts can you give someone that will make them think of you every day for 12-24 days?)

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Katie Workman writes regularly about food for the Associated Press. She has written two cookbooks focused on home cooking, “Dinner Solved!” and “The Mom 100 Cookbook.” She blogs at She can be contacted at [email protected].