When it comes to Christmas, I unashamedly go all out. I love to kickstart December with Advent calendars for all the family, so it seemed only fair to taste test this lot with them in tow. And, despite an age range spanning 60-plus years, we were all pretty much on the same page with our expectations: we were looking for a bit of variety behind the doors, some Christmas sparkle and a hint of nostalgia. Packaging that looked the part when displayed on our mantelpiece was also an important consideration.
The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more.
Despite the obvious biases (the kids being attracted to the calendars aimed at them v the adults preferring the slightly more elegant offerings), the results were pretty consistent. We all loved the calendars where there was something extra: a picture behind a door or a foil barrier to break through, a variation in the chocolates and so forth. Ultimately, that just goes to show that we’re all big kids at heart – and that every day should start with a miniature chocolate treat.
The best chocolate Advent calendarsBest overall:
Hotel Chocolat milk chocolate Advent calendar£13.95 for 125g at Hotel Chocolat (£11.16/100g)£13.95 for 125g at Amazon
★★★★★
I love everything about this: it’s compact, stylish and the only one we tested with a message behind each door, which the nostalgist in me loved. There’s also a foil layer to break through, and different Christmas-themed chocolates. A well-thought-out Advent calendar: delicious, classy and festive.
Best bargain:
Baci chocolate Christmas Advent calendar£15 for 278g at Ocado (£5.40/100g)
★★★★★
I love the look of this one: it’s festive and opulent, and it isn’t heavily branded, either, which I appreciate. Most importantly, there is a full-size and different-flavoured Baci chocolate behind each door. And while the overall price may seem more hefty than some, it works out as much better value for money per 100g of chocolate. A calendar you could give as a gift.
And the rest …Butlers chocolate Advent calendar£19.99 for 350g at Selfridges (£5.71/100g)
★★★★★
The heaviest, most generous chocolate offering by far, this opens out to reveal a calm and attractive calendar that isn’t screaming with branding. Behind each door is a different chocolate, with flavours including Himalayan sea salt, and date and almond. Essentially, a full chocolate box in a calendar. A great grown-up option.
Tony’s Chocolonely Advent calendar£12.50 for 216g at Tesco (£5.79/100g)£12.50 for 216g at Amazon
★★★★☆
Fairtrade, so a great eco-conscious option. The little doors are cracker-shaped and satisfying to open, and the chocolates are a good size. The design isn’t my favourite – the branding is loud – but the chocolate is worth it.
Ferrero Rocher Advent calendar£15 for 258g at Ocado (£5.81/100g)
★★★★☆
One of the most expensive of the bunch, but it stands out with its huge, Christmassy gold box. A nice mixture of chocolate that anyone who dreamed of a festive Ferrero Rocher pyramid will be thrilled with.
skip past newsletter promotion
Get the best shopping advice from the Filter team straight to your inbox. The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link.
Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. If you do not have an account, we will create a guest account for you on theguardian.com to send you this newsletter. You can complete full registration at any time. For more information about how we use your data see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
after newsletter promotion
Lindt Lindor assorted mini calendar£9.99 for 117g at Selfridges (£8.54/100g)£6.50 for 117g at Amazon (£5.56/100g)
★★★☆☆
I love a Lindor for breakfast at Christmas, but this is a bit on the stingy side, and here, the classic Lindor balls we all know and love have been shrunk, too. On the plus side, it’s one of the only calendars tested with a different, larger chocolate for Christmas Eve, which feels special, and, with its large gold box, it’s attractive to look at.
Divine dark chocolate Advent calendar£5.56 for 85g at Natural Collection (£6.54/10og)£5.60 for 85g at Ocado (£6.59/100g)
★★★☆☆
I love that you can feel good about buying Divine chocolate – they give back to the farmers directly, there’s no palm oil, and it’s vegan. I also appreciate the artwork behind the doors, and the foil layer that adds to the anticipation. But the design isn’t the best and doesn’t look particularly festive.
Montezuma’s organic dark chocolate Advent calendar£15.75 for 150g at Abel & Cole (£10.50/100g)£18 for 150g at Ocado (£12/100g)
★★☆☆☆
If you like dark chocolate, you’ll appreciate the quality of this offering, but it’s not the most stylish of calendars. The chocolates themselves lack variation, too, in flavour and design – no pictures or element of surprise. A tad overpriced.
Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate mixed chunk Advent calendar£6.50 for 258g at Ocado (£2.52/100g)£7.50 for 258g at Morrisons (£2.91/100g)
★★☆☆☆
A classic Cadbury’s calendar with three types of dairy milk chocolate: plain, caramel and wholenut. A lot of bang for your buck, with the most chocolate for the least cost. But it isn’t particularly Christmassy or attractive. They’ve gone for branding over festivity, which is a bit boring and sad.
Kinder 24 minis Advent calendar£5.50 for 144g at Ocado (£3.82/100g)£5.30 for 144g at Amazon (£3.68/100g)
★☆☆☆☆
I’m going to hold up my hands and confess to being a Kinder obsessive – I love the stuff – so the low score isn’t a comment on the chocolate itself. There are a few Kinder calendars on the market, many not much more expensive than this one, that offer far more chocolate options behind the doors. This just feels very basic, with the same chocolate every day.
For more inspiration, read the best beauty Advent calendars and the best dark chocolate
Dining and Cooking