Yours has rounded up the best vegan advent calendars for Christmas 2023. After all, advent calendars are the perfect way to celebrate the run-up to Christmas. But just because you’re vegan or dairy-free doesn’t mean you have to miss out. There is a great selection of vegan advent calendars on the market. Everyone deserves a treat at Christmas...
Best vegan advent calendars at a glance
• Best vegan advent calendar: H!P Vegan Chocolate Advent Calendar - view at H!P Chocolate
• Best vegan beauty advent calendar: The Beauty Advent Calendar - view at Holland + Barrett
• Budget-friendly vegan advent calendar: Moo Free Dairy-Free Chocolate Advent Calendar - view on Amazon UK
Perhaps, you're wondering: what is vegan chocolate made from? Well, each of our chocolate-based picks is made from different ingredients. Some of these options contain just cocoa and vegan-friendly agents to help bulk out the bites. However, some contain oat, soy and special nut milk for that extra creaminess that chocolate lovers crave
Whether you’re a lover of dark chocolate, milk, or white or even prefer a truffle, we’ve whittled down the best vegan advent calendars that are still creamy and chocolatey, without the milk. We've even included some sweeties, too! Not only that, but we've also made sure to include non-food picks, with vegan-friendly beauty product calendars making the cut.
Best Vegan Advent Calendars For Christmas 2023
hipchocolate.com
Enjoy the H!P Vegan Chocolate Advent Calendar, which is packed with plain, salted caramel, orange and gingerbread chocolates behind each window. Plastic-free, and made with creamy oat milk, you can’t go wrong with H!P chocolate. We bet you can’t wait to tuck in… Check out H!Ps awesome Christmas range... which includes gingerbread chocolate. Sounds delish.
Piper tried H!Ps 2024 calendar... and, as always, is very impressed. She loves H!Ps creamy taste, from the advent to their ordinary bars (shoutout to the cookies and cream) and new releases, such as the H!P and Mix. It's no wonder they've won Great Taste Awards. They're a fantastic company - truly ethical with their ingredient sourcing and environmental ethos. Plus, they use gluten-free oat syrup - which is super reassuring for my partner who loves chocolate and is a coeliac. Made for sharing! I love the addition of the orange flavour this year - so very festive. Gosh, I miss Terry's Chocolate Orange...
Pros
- Full of tasty, varied chocolate (four types)
- We love that it comes from an eco-friendly company
- Made using ethically sourced cocoa
Cons
- Chocolates are a little thin
- Tried & Tested by Commercial Content Writer for Yours, Piper Huxley:
“I was lucky enough to try the H!P Chocolate advent calendar. And – I was very impressed. It’s safe to say that I’ve tried a lot of vegan chocolate, and this one is a contender for the top spot. This calendar has good variety, and the chocolate is deliciously creamy. Plus – another bonus – the doors are easier to open, too, due to the well-designed windows.”
Holland & Barrett's Beauty Advent Calendar elevates the excitement of the festive countdown to a whole new level. Imagine replacing traditional sweet treats with a daily dose of luxurious skincare, haircare, and beauty essentials waiting to be explored and cherished. This Christmas, go ahead and pamper yourself (or a loved one) with this luxury pick. What did our tester think?
Piper was lucky enough to try this beauty... and loved every single item.
Pros
- Supremely good value
- Everything is vegan
- Such a variety of products
Cons
- None we can think of!
- Tried and Tested by Piper Huxley:
"I was lucky enough to try Holland and Barret's Advent Calendar - and wow! The sheer volume of stuff here, the quality, the trusted, eco-friendly brands. Just overwhelming. It retails at about £150, but for a mere £45, you're able to dip your toes into the world of vegan, cruelty-free and eco-friendly beauty. With a little luck, you won't look back and may find that one beauty product you've been searching for.
I already use some of these brands religiously for my regime (UpCircle, Faith in Nature, Ecodenta, Ethique) - but trying some new products has definitely transformed the time I take looking after myself. This is a treat - and would make a fabulous gift for your eco-conscious loved one. I'm so excited to try everything."
Budget-friendly vegan advent calendar
Perfect for a festive countdown, the Moo Free Dairy-Free Chocolate Advent Calendar offers fantastic ethically sourced choccy bites. Lucky for you, Moo Free has been made with ethically sourced ingredients - free from dairy, gluten, soy and palm oil. And, the packaging is all biodegradable and recyclable - sustainability is a priority for this family-run business, which champions inclusivity and opportunity for neurodivergent people. A good ethos, great tasting chocolate. Fabulous.
Piper loved the Moo Free Calendar... and thought the chocolates were super tasty. After reading a little about Moo Free's sustainability and their equal opportunity employment for autistic people, she was touched - and felt very happy to be munching on these allergen-free choccies. Gorge.
Pros
- Budget-friendly vegan calendar
- Perfect for plain chocolate lovers
- Free from soy, gluten and palm oil
Cons
- Only one variety of chocolate
Best calendar for dark chocolate lovers
www.ethicalsuperstore.com
Looking for something to please a dark chocolate lover? We can't recommend the Divine Dark Chocolate Advent Calendar enough. Not only is the calendar design very beautiful, but each day will reveal a little chocolate treat for you to try, made with fair-traded cocoa from farmers in Ghana.
Piper got to try this beautiful fair-trade chocolate. I've been looking forward to nibbling at this rich Divine (in every sense of the word) every single day. Opening the calendar window is a dream.
Pros
- Fairly traded from farmers in Ghana
- We love the colourful design
- Perfect for dark chocolate lovers
Cons
- May not suit milk chocolate lovers
Luxury vegan chocolate advent calendar
www.hotelchocolat.com
Despite being made without milk, this new Hotel Chocolat Vegan Nutmilk Advent Calendar promises chocolates that are as silky smooth as their milk ones. Behind each door, you’ll find a bite-size festive character made from 45 per cent cacao and finely milled hazelnuts that are guaranteed to put a smile on your face during December. We love that the brand makes their own vegan "milk" in-house...
Customers love their creamy Hotel Chocolat non-dairy calendar, for vegans and non-dairy chocolate lovers, alike. With an average 4.3/5 star rating, we're impressed - and this calendar has made its mark. Reviews rate the taste and presentation highly (4.4 and 4.7, respectively) - however, feel as if the value for money is a little lower down the scale (3.6). One customer commented that the calendar is "beautiful, very presentable and delicious". Plus, it's easy to take the choccies out, which is a relief.
Pros
- Creamy, homemade plant milk
- Bite-size pieces of rich chocolate
- Perfect for embracing the season
Cons
- Not suitable for nut allergy sufferers
The Happi Vegan Advent Calendar features 24 individually-wrapped oat milk chocolates, featuring a plain Oat Milk flavour, Orange and Salted Caramel. Gorgeous, right? These vegan and gluten-free goodies have been made with 46% single-origin cacao and contain a lot less sugar than regular milk chocolate. Not only are they soya free, but they are packaged sustainability - with donations made by Happi to mental health organisations with every purchase. No dairy, no damage to the planet.
Piper loved Happi's advent calendar! She loved how creamy these chocolates are, which is not always common when it comes to vegan offerings. Though the flavour selection felt a little unoriginal, the salted caramel was to die for (!) And, she loved that it had less sugar than most dairy chocolate.
Pros
- Made using gluten-free oat milk for peace of mind
- Happi supports mental health chairities with every purchase
- They taste amazing - sooooo creamy for vegan choccies
Cons
- Selection of flavours are a little unoriginal
Best vegan advent calendars for a sweet tooth
Candy Kittens have their own advent calendar – and it’s just what's needed for those of us who prefer a sweetie over a chocolate. This non-traditional, non-chocolate advent calendar is a Christmas treat, featuring Wild Strawberry, Sour Watermelon, Eton Mess, Very Cherry, LOVES, SHOX Sour Apple & Strawberry, and Wanderlust flavoured Sweets. Plus, behind each window is a Christmas riddle from co-founder Jamie Laing that needs solving. We're waiting patiently to try this ourselves...
Pros
- A sweet non-traditional calendar
- Eight flavours to try in this pick (!)
- Comes with a Christmas riddle each day
Cons
- Opinions are mixed on value for money - but we disagree!
- Tried & Tested by Commercial Content Writer for Yours, Piper Huxley:
“I tried the Candy Kittens advent calendar last year, which you had to assemble yourself into a little tree with box-shelves for your sweet treat. As expected, the sweets were very tasty, and varied in flavour - and I was thoroughly impressed. I'm sure their latest calendar is just as sweet.”
Best vegan advent calendar for tea lovers
www.birdandblendtea.com
Indulge in the delight of 48 cups of exquisite surprise luxury tea. For a special two cups a day, this Bird + Blend Tea Advent Calendar is just the ticket. Their commitment to sustainability shines through with 100% plastic-free and recyclable packaging and eco-friendly tea bags. Not only do you have the choice between regular or caffeine-free options, but a free gift is included inside. 100% plastic-free and one tree planted for every calendar - share a cuppa with someone you love...
Customers love this calendar - always a welcome present and "well worth the price".
Pros
- Perfect for those who aren't keen on chocolate
- A thoughtful gift, add new teas to your rituals
- You can choose a caffeine-free version, too!
Cons
- There may not be a flavour for everyone
Best vegan advent calendars for all ages
www.hotelchocolat.com
With the holiday season drawing near, it's the perfect moment to immerse yourself in the joyous atmosphere! And what could be a more fitting way to celebrate the season of generosity than by indulging in a charming advent calendar? The Hotel Chocolat Unbelievably Vegan Up To Snow Good Advent is guaranteed to enchant anyone. 24 cute choccies wait for surprise and delight...
Customers love this chocolate - with a fantastic taste and fabulous presentation. Again - Hotel Chocolat's vegan milk is made from nuts - so not great for nut allergy sufferers or those who aren't keen on the taste of hazelnuts. We are reassured that lovers of "Nutella" will love them...
Pros
- Jolly penguins and Santa shapes
- Perfect for children and adults
- Well-presented and good value
Cons
- Not suitable for nut-allergy sufferers
Best nut-free vegan advent calendar
This Cocoa Libre Luxury Vegan Advent Calendar may be made from light rice milk, but its chocolates are still rich and creamy in texture. Made from a small, artisan producer in the UK, inside you’ll find 24 sweet festive sculptures, such as Santa, reindeer, Christmas trees and stars. It's a luxury chocolate advent calendar - and it looks delicious. And, it's gluten-free, which is a plus.
Customers like the taste and thickness of the Cocoa Libre chocolates - delicious, rich, and creamy.
Pros
- Made with creamy, nut-free rice milk
- Filled with various chocolate shapes
- Gluten-free goodness for peace of mind
Cons
- Some found the chocolate too chunky and dense
Best vegan truffle advent calendar
Who doesn’t love a truffle? Just because you are vegan doesn’t mean you have to miss out, thanks to Monty Bojangles. They’ve created this beautifully illustrated Monty Bojangles Advent Calendar with Vegan Truffles filled with three different flavoured cocoa-dusted truffles: caramel haze, cocoa berry blush and cocoa nib nights. Aren't we lucky? These are the tastiest truffles in the kingdom...
Customers love this pick - for its taste, appearance and value. They add that it's a unique gift for chocolate lovers and vegans alike. Super scrumptious and worth the money, too.
Pros
- Tasty, intense and rich truffles
- Different flavours to try
- Beautifully illustrated calendar
Cons
- May be too rich for some
Best unusual vegan advent calendar
www.joeandsephs.co.uk
Officially approved by the Vegan Society, this Joe + Seph's Vegan Popcorn Advent Calendar opens up like a giant Christmas storybook and behind 24 festive cubbyholes, you can discover mini packs of Joe and Seph’s handmade popcorn in seven unique, vegan flavours. Make December the most, wonderful time of the year. And, it's been officially approved by the Vegan Society® for that extra oomph.
Customers rate this very highly - with an average rating of 4.8/5 stars from reviews. One customer says their son is vegan and has a nut allergy - so it's a great option for those who avoid chocolate.
Pros
- Unusual, tasty calendar for all
- Approved by the Vegan Society
- Great if you don't like chocolate
Cons
- May not be for everyone
FAQs
What other dairy products can you find vegan alternatives for?
It’s no secret that following a plant-based diet can be somewhat challenging, to begin with, but it's probably dairy products that make the switch to veganism all the more difficult. Plant-based milk seems to have taken over the shops with everything from soy, to almond, to coconut gracing the shelves. With that, comes milkshakes and cream, too. All of these come with great, plant-based alternatives, coming from leading brands such as Alpro, Oatly and Elmea.
On the other hand, cheese is a little more unusual. Loved for its unique flavour, texture and aroma, cheese can be hard to copy for plant-based companies. However, it is getting tastier with every single new product. Have a look on the shelves for vegan cheeses: cheddar, mozzarella, greek cheese, creamy cheese, blue cheese - and beyond.
Eggs - on the other hand - are trickier. There are a few alternatives on the market. But, they are expensive. Stick to things like flaxseed, aquafaba and oil for egg replacements when baking. Why not get a vegan recipe book?
How can I host a meat-free Christmas in my home?
Going meat-free this Christmas is a great way to have an eco-friendly Christmas, as the carbon footprint of meat production needs to be minimised as much as possible. There are lots of meat-free alternatives, from nut roasts to a veggie wellington or even a mushroom, pepper and pesto strudel.
Piper Huxley is a Homes, Garden and Wellness Product Writer for Yours, an all-rounder who will write on anything from décor to wellness. When not scouring the net for the best home bargains, Piper is listening to a musical soundtrack and tending to her houseplants. Despite being a proper foodie, she's been a vegan for many years - and knows what tastes best - and what should be shown the door.