The advent calendar phenomenon grows every year with so many exciting, fun, beautiful and delicious options available. Even in the food and drink area alone, there really is something for everyone. Prices range from impulse purchases to extravagant purchases. If you’re looking to surprise a relative or friend with 12 to 24 days of pure fun (or treat your own family), don’t miss this holiday season. These limited edition calendars can sell out quickly!

Chocolate

If you know a chocolate-loving advent calendar fan, you have so many great options! The Winter Foxes Chocolate Advent Calendar by Compartés is a winter wonderland of adorable, playful foxes and festive landscapes. Behind the tiny doors you’ll find chocolates in innovative flavors like cinnamon rolls, blueberry shortcake and sticky fudge. $109.95.

Bean-to-bar chocolate maker Dandelion Chocolate designed its impressive calendar to pay homage to the constellations; This includes a star wheel that describes what you can see in the night sky. There are 24 ornaments, each containing chocolates from chocolate makers around the United States. Each ornament is accompanied by a story about the astral events of that day of the month. Chocolate and astronomy, what a perfect match. $185.

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

Tony’s Chocoloney Countdown Calendar has the same graphic appeal as candy wrappers, with cheerful and bold colors. 25 “Tony’s Tinys” include dark chocolate almond sea salt, milk chocolate hazelnut, dark milk pretzel fudge and more. $19.99.

Sugar

See’s 2024 Advent Calendar features 24 days of premium See’s candies, from truffles to famous lollipops and more, set in a charming winter abode. Sturdy pull-out drawers offer easy access to candies and interesting pop-up pictures that unfold like a charming storybook. 75 dollars.

You have a few options with Sugarwish’s advent calendar. You can choose your treats from a wide variety of candy options (M&M’s, Swedish fish, gummies, etc.). Or you can send someone a calendar online as a gift and let them choose their own treats. $79.

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

If your kitchen turns into a holiday baking center in December, Sweetapolita’s 24 Days of Magical Sprinkles and Decorative Marshmallows is for you. A beautiful pink box contains 24 small drawers, each filled with a jar of cute candies. Each calendar comes in a custom cotton drawstring bag, making it even more giftable. $99.

Dylan’s Candy Bar has two options, from a giant Countdown Candy Tree with a glittering tree and 24 shiny round ornaments filled with seasonal candies ($110) to a tiny tree-shaped box with tiny perforated doors that stores 24 tiny holiday treats. $10.

Snacks

The 12 Days of Cheese advent calendar from cheese virtuoso Murray’s is the perfect gift for the turophile (cheese lover) in your life. It’s filled with a wide variety of items, including nine cheeses, oatcakes, and some mini jellies. You need to keep it in the fridge, but who doesn’t want a grazing board ready in the fridge for the holidays? $78

Uncommon Goods has a number of affordable options, like 12 Days of Gourmet Nuts. Each 2-ounce reusable mini tin has a different flavor or nut blend you can indulge in, like Salted Pistachios, Honey Sea Salt Almonds, Cranberry Nut Blend, and Coconut Curry Peanuts. 55 dollars

12 Days of Hot Sauce is for the heat lovers in your life (and we all have one). Twelve small bottles of liquid heat range from mild to spicy, sweet to salty, and turn up the heat all month long. Flavors include Sweet Onion Habanero, Garlic Reaper, Plum Reaper, Chipotle BBQ, and Smoky Horseradish. 55 dollars

If you really want to impress or want to gift a calendar to a family, go big! The Best of Harry & David advent calendar features not one but two festive-themed boxes featuring snacks like the famous Royal Riviera Pear, Moose Munch Premium Popcorn varieties, yogurt-covered peppermint tree-shaped pretzels and blackberry galettes. $199.99

drinks

For tea lovers, try Palais de Thes’ 24 collection of best-selling teas and herbal blends for $38 or 12 daily Harney & Sons teas for $29.95.

Coffee lovers will love Onyx Coffee Lab’s journey through the world of specialty coffee with 24 days of bean discovery. An accordion box opens containing 24 packs of single-origin whole coffee, made from beans from around the world ready to be ground and brewed. $175.

Flaviar offers a substantial trunk-inspired box featuring high-end whiskey samples as well as 2 collectible and exclusive Glencairn glasses. Travel the world of whiskey for 24 days with Starward Nova Single Malt from Australia and Sekk Sato Shiki from Japan, as well as a multitude of bourbon offerings from the USA, including Haven Hill, Jaywalk, Rye and Milam & Greene Triple Cask. Includes interactive tasting notes. 250 dollars.

A company called Give Them Beer offers you the chance to give to someone…. yes, 12 day old beer. But also, 12-day beef jerky, 12-day bourbon, 12-day red wine, 12-day moonshine, and many more adult-oriented pleasures. Prices start at $80 and 24-day options are also available.

One last international offering: Slice of Tokyo Treat from Japan: The 24-Day 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 collectibles, figurines, and anime keychains. 150 dollars.

What about those celebrating Hanukkah? You don’t have to miss the fun. Harry and David is offering 8 Nights of Hanukkah Gifts, an attractive Star of David-shaped box containing treats like jelly beans, macaroons and cinnamon buns. $109.99.

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

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Katie Workman writes regularly about food for the Associated Press. She has written two cookbooks focusing on family-friendly cooking: “Dinner Solved!” and “Mom 100 Cookbooks.” She blogs at: [email protected] She can be reached.