Best food and drink advent calendars 2023: Cartwright & Butler, Biscuiteers and more

Here are the best food and drink advent calendars available to buy online for 2023 - you'll want them all...

A selection of the best food and drink advent calendars 2023 including Fortnum & Mason, Naked Marshmallow and more
(Image credit: Future / various)

Countdown to Christmas in style with one of these indulgent food and drink calendars - all in stock and available online for 2023.

Advent calendars have been popular since the 1950s as a way to count down to Christmas Day. Traditionally, they've been simple in design, with a solo chocolate square hidden behind paper doors or windows.  However, in recent years, they’ve been given an indulgent makeover with everything from truffles to pralines to biscuits, cakes, and even booze.

With my expertise, which is over 10 years as a food writer and editor, and my keen eye for quality when it comes to food, I have compiled a list of the best food and drink advent calendars; some of which I have tried and tested firsthand and others I have chosen because I adore the brand or have had the pleasure of reviewing their produce in the past. So without further ado, for those of you wanting to shy away from the best chocolate advent calendars this year, I give you the food and drink advent favourites.

Recent updates

This article was updated on 27th November. We checked the prices of all the products featured in the article and updated some of the deals for accuracy.

Where to buy the best food and drink advent calendars

Best food and drink advent calendars for 2023

Why you can trust GoodtoKnow. Our experienced Consumer Editor & parent reviewers spend hours testing products to help you make the best choice. Find out how we test and review products.

Tried and tested food and drink advent calendars - my top picks

Flapjackery Advent Calendar Box

(Image credit: Future)

Flapjackery Advent Calendar Box

Specifications

RRP: £52
Delivery: Standard/Nominated day
Available: Coming soon

Reasons to buy

+
Deliciously moreish flapjacks
+
Great variety and true to the flavours
+
Good use-by dates

Reasons to avoid

-
Flapjacks only
-
Pricey

If you’re a massive fan of flapjacks you’re going to be well and truly won over by this generous advent calendar full to the rafters with soft, buttery flapjacks - that are simply some of the best flapjacks I’ve ever tasted - and I’ve tasted a lot over the years. All are gluten-free, individually wrapped for freshness, and all have a different flavour might I add? 

It was so hard to choose a favourite as each square of flapjack I tried just had the sweetest flavours true to their name - the creamy hazelnut chocolate flapjacks were exactly that; creamy, nutty with a sweet caramel glaze. The chocolate fudge flapjacks felt like you were eating two treats in one as did the cherry Bakewell flapjacks topped with an almond-infused cake layer and sweet cherry jam. Other heavenly flavours included the Billionaire’s flapjacks, and salted caramel brownie flapjacks (with a brownie top!) to name but a few of my favourites.

Pair them all with a bucket of tea, and you really are indulging yourself in the run-up to Christmas. The squares are big enough to share - but only if you really want to of course. And the use-by dates are generous too, meaning if you don’t eat them straight away, you can save for a later date.


Cartwright & Butler 12 Days of Christmas calendar

(Image credit: Future)

Cartwright & Butler 12 Days of Christmas calendar

Specifications

RRP: £100
Delivery: Standard
Available: Now

Reasons to buy

+
Great variety of full-sized products
+
Ideal for sharing and will last you up to Christmas despite only 12 days

Reasons to avoid

-
Only 12 days worth
-
Pricey

Ok so my initial thought was 'I can only countdown 12 days of Christmas with this calendar, that's a bit rubbish', however the size of the products, and the generous share-worthy treats you get behind each door will well and truly last you past Christmas - especially if you're tackling the whole thing on your own. 

Highlights from the 12 days calendar for me included the popcorn and peanut brittle - it was favourite last year and it still remains a favourite for this year; sticky, sweet, chewy pieces of caramel bejeweled with popcorn and peanuts - it's just heavenly. The chocolate fudge is another best of mine; sweet, and buttery with a subtle chocolate flavour, and the crumbly triple chocolate chunk biscuits with a rich chocolate flavour - however be warned they are very messy so don't make the mistake I did and eat them whilst wearing a cream jumper... it was not a good look.

A packet of biscuits, a box of fudge, a jar of preserve... the list goes on! A great range from Cartwright & Butler this year which will certainly help you countdown to the big day.


How we tested the best food and drink advent calendars

Each food and drink advent calendar that I reviewed this year was tried and tested keeping the following criteria in mind:

  • How does the advent calendar look; does it look the part? does it have a festive design? would you proudly display this advent calendar on your kitchen side or hide away in the cupboard? How big or small is it?
  • How does the product in the advent calendar taste; is the quality of the products in the calendar - true to their flavour, what you expected, or more? good use by dates?
  • The variety in the calendar; how many flavours or varieties are included? Different shapes, sizes, types? Is it just the same product over and over or a selection to choose from? Festive-themed or classic? What ingredients are used, would someone be disappointed to open or would they be satisfied?
  • Value for money; how much does it cost? Is it worth the money? Does the price reflect the brand? Is it too cheap, too expensive and why?
  • Packaging; is it made from recyclable packaging? Is it all cardboard or mostly plastic? How can it be recycled? Is this clearly marked on the calendar?

Love these advent calendars? We've also got a selection of wine advent calendars, and even cheese advent calendars to choose from this year. Not to mention some of the best Christmas food hampers for 2023 too.

Jessica Dady
Food Editor

Jessica Dady is Food Editor at GoodtoKnow and has over 11 years of experience as a digital editor, specialising in all things food, recipes, and SEO. From the must-buy seasonal food hampers and advent calendars for Christmas to the family-friendly air fryers that’ll make dinner time a breeze, Jessica loves trying and testing various food products to find the best of the best for the busy parents among us. Over the years of working with GoodtoKnow, Jessica has had the privilege of working alongside Future’s Test Kitchen to create exclusive videos - as well as writing, testing, and shooting her own recipes. When she’s not embracing the great outdoors with her family at the weekends, Jessica enjoys baking up a storm in the kitchen with her favourite bakes being chocolate chip cookies, cupcakes, and a tray of gooey chocolate brownies