The 10 Best advent calendars

The most delicious chocolate treats help make waiting for Christmas so much more enjoyable for children and adults alike

1. Hotel Chocolat Truffles for Two

If you’ve got a couple of chocoholic adults in your household, this is well worth forking out for. There are two delectable baby truffles behind each window, with flavours ranging from mulled wine to sticky gingerbread and pecan pudding.

£26 www.hotelchocolate.com

2. Windel

If you’re after a more traditional advent calendar for littluns that doesn’t cost the earth, this has a delightful picture of Santa and his entourage dashing through the snow with a daily chocolate treat to keep them going until the big day.

£1.99 www.lakeland.co.uk

3. Master of Malt The Ginvent Calendar

At first glance, it’s hard to imagine how a mere advent calendar could possibly justify this price tag . But behind each window lies a sample of astonishingly good gin. From market leaders to artisanal treats and from new brands to hard-to-find gems, it’s a gin-lover’s dream and there’s a whisky version too.

£99.95 www.selfridges.co.uk

4. Marks & Spencer Percy Pig

It’s not the first year that Percy Pig has appeared on an M&S advent calendar, but this year’s is extra special as 2013 marks this favourite pig’s 21 birthday. The fun themed calendar is filled with Percy white chocolates, flavoured with dried raspberries.

£2.50 www.marksandspencer.com (in store only)

5. Carluccios Beuno Festa

This is the first year Carluccio’s has produced an advent calendar and it was worth the wait. Besides the beautiful packaging, inspired by the colours of Bologna, each window reveals high-quality, foil wrapped chocolate in the shape of fruit, animal or something Christmassy. At 250g, there’s no skimping either.

£10.95 www.carluccios.com

6. Leupoldt Lebkuchen

Lebkuchen is the German word for gingerbread and the traditional family company Leupoldt has been at the forefront of Lebkuchen manufacture in Germany since 1905. Their advent offering this year comes in the form of an attractive Christmas tree with pull out drawers.

£29.95 www.harrods.com (in store only)

7. Godiva

This Belgian chocolatier sells its premium gourmet chocolates worldwide and their advent offering for this year doesn’t disappoint. Filled with both signature and seasonal chocolates to please every palate, it’s a great way of building up excitement during the countdown to Christmas.

£22 www.godiva-online-store.eu

8. Lindt

Everyone loves Lindt and this includes 24 of their most iconic festive novelties, including mini Santas, mini reindeers and those melt-in-the-mouth Lindor balls. Children, be warned - you might need to hide it from the adults.

£5.29 www.lindt-shop.co.uk

9. Montezumas

New for this year, this more unusual offering has 24 handmade chocolates that are inspired by Montezuma’s popular British pudding bars. Flavours include Eton mess, treacle tart, summer pudding and lemon meringue.

£9.99 www.montezumas.co.uk

10. John Lewis Iced Gingerbread

There can be few tastes more festive than gingerbread, which makes this calendar – with beautifully decorated and scrumptious gingerbread treats to last the 24 days of advent - a particularly worthwhile purchase. The calendar comes nicely wrapped too.

£12 www.johnlewis.com