Believe it or not, did you know that non-chocolate advent calendars exist? Cue gasp. Soon, it'll officially be treat yo'self season, meaning whenever someone says, "Do you want..." you say "YES." Cakes, booze, biscuits - you name it, we're consuming it. There's no better way to celebrate our favourite time of year than by treating yourself EVERY SINGLE DAY until Christmas with an advent calendar.
Do you hear that? The jingling of sleigh bells? The clinking of champagne glasses? The rustling of the Quality Street box? You know it, we know it, so we'd better just accept it - Christmas is WELL on its way, and it's time to get into the festive spirit. Whether it's a snack advent calendar or a beauty advent calendar, there's an advent calendar for you.
Closer's pick of the best non-chocolate advent calendars, at a glance
If you're over the whole chocolate thing, you might be in the market for a different kind of tasty treat. Luckily for you, brands in the advent market have been working hard to make their non-chocolate advent calendars really stand out, with something out there to tickle every tastebud. So, here are the best non-chocolate advent calendars on the market.
SHOP: The very best non-chocolate advent calendars
Best music advent calendar
Etsywww.notonthehighstreet.com
Christmas music is just the best. If you're like us and start singing All I Want For Christmas Is You at exactly 12.01 a.m. on December 1st, then this Personalised Christmas Playlist Advent Calendar might just be the one for you and yours. Who doesn't love a bit of Mariah? Each day reveals a new Christmas track, finishing with a playlist on December 25th.
Pros
- Can be personalised
- Each door reveals a new Christmas track for an awesome playlist
- Five different designs are available
Cons
- Free Spotify account may contain ads
Best mindfulness advent calendar
AmazonA wild card advent calendar, but a good one. This Mindfulness Advent Calendar from Embracing Mindfulness is exactly what our stressed-out heads are in need of. It offers 24 mindful tasks - like a 'mindful winter walk' - to calm your headspace and, tbh, we're running out of ideas on our own, so this sounds perfect.
Pros
- A thoughtful advent calendar
- 24 mindfulness tasks with Christmas themes
- Can use all year round
Cons
- Each calendar may vary
Best tea advent calendar
Twiningstwinings.co.uk
A calendar that will absolutely decrease your stress levels this Christmas, this Twinings advent calendar contains two teabags to enjoy each day. With a range of Superblends and Soulful Blends, this is the perfect way to relax during the busy Christmas period.
Pros
- Two teabags included each day
- 24 teas from the Superblends and Soulful Blends ranges
- Attractive design
Cons
- One reviewer thought that a mix of teas and herbal infusions would be better
Best sweet advent calendar
Candy Kittens/Ocadowww.ocado.com
Got a sweet tooth but don't fancy chocolate? Candy Kittens has got you covered with its 2024 advent calendar, which is the ultimate treat for sweet lovers. Enjoy 24 days of gourmet sweets with flavours including wild strawberry, sour watermelon and Eton mess.
Pros
- At least two sweets a day during December and a full-sized bag on Christmas Eve
- Contains a mix of flavours
- Suitable for vegans
Cons
- One reviewer felt it is better suited to older children and adults
Selfridgeswww.selfridges.com
You can't beat a mince pie to get into the festive spirit, so why not enjoy a delicious treat each day in December? There's a mini mince pie behind each window, with flavours including classic, citrus and almond. A mini Christmas cake awaits on December 25th.
Pros
- Great range of flavours
- Mini Christmas cake to open on December 25th
- Attractive packaging
Cons
- The mince pies aren't full-sized
Best marshmallow advent calendar
The Naked Marshmallow Co/John Lewiswww.johnlewis.com
Celebrate Christmas in style and treat yourself to a gooey gourmet marshmallow every day on the run up to Christmas. This delicious pick includes 12 tasty flavours to enjoy.
Pros
- Includes 12 flavours of marshmallow
- Attractive packaging
- Unique choice for sweet lovers
Cons
- Not suitable for vegans or vegetarians
Best candle advent calendar
www.boots.com
This beautiful Yankee Candle advent calendar is the perfect way to enjoy the magical festive season. Open 24 scented tealight candles with a selection of seasonal scents.
Pros
- Beautiful design
- Contains 24 tealights
- A range of scents included
Cons
- Some of the scents aren't Christmas related
Best coffee advent calendar
Beanies/Bootswww.boots.com
Fancy a festive cup of coffee to start your morning? The perfect choice for coffee lovers, this Beanies advent calendar contains flavours including Christmas pudding, mince pie and gingerbread.
Pros
- Contains 24 days of festive coffee flavours
- Vegan friendly
- Sugar free
Cons
- Only contains flavoured coffee
Best cheese advent calendar
Ocadowww.ocado.com
A perfect choice for cheese lovers, enjoy 24 individually wrapped cheese on the run-up to Christmas Day. This calendar boasts cheeses including Cheddar, Double Gloucester and Red Leicester.
Pros
- Great variety of flavours
- 24 portions of cheese
- Perfect for cheese lovers
Cons
- One reviewer felt the boxes were a little hard to open
Best matcha advent calendar
Bird & Blend Teawww.birdandblendtea.com
A must-have for matcha lovers, open up two portions of delicious matcha each day as you count down to Christmas. Enjoy an array of flavours, including strawberries and cream, toffee apple, mince pie and salted caramel.
Pros
- Contains 48 cups of matcha
- Enjoy a different flavour each day
- Includes limited edition flavours
Cons
- May sell out quickly
laithwaiteswww.laithwaites.co.uk
Stop the search: we've found the best non-chocolate advent calendar that exists. This wine (wine!) Christmas countdown contains a quarter bottle of vino for 23 days with a whopping full size of Prosecco behind the door of number 24.
Pros
- It's full of wine
- Wine is delicious
- Wine!
Cons
- Not to be drunk in the morning unlike a cup of tea (see above)
Where to find the best non-chocolate advent calendars?
If you're looking to shop the best advent calendars that DON'T involve chocolate (yes, that also includes the best men's advent calendars without the chocolate treats), there are a few places you can browse. Not On The High Street and Etsy have you covered with the best personalised options. However, other retailers like Amazon and Boots will sort you out with speedy delivery.
Jade Moscrop is the Commercial Content Editor for Closer, specialising in lifestyle topics. When she’s not writing about affordable homeware, beauty products and gym leggings, she can usually be found on a hot girl walk, buying houseplants, or listening to female-fronted rock bands.