Emily Way for Taste of Home
Pros:
- Includes 12 snowflakes and 12 character ornaments
- Covers all the popular characters
- Box is luxurious and gift-ready
- Ornaments are carefully packed to prevent breakage
- Made from Lenox's signature porcelain
- Box can double as seasonal storage
Cons:
- Ornaments are small at around 2-inches tall
Lenox is best known for its famous spice village. That said, it also offers gorgeous collectibles, most notably porcelain Christmas ornaments. Now, you can enjoy them in an Advent calendar! The Lenox Peanuts ornament Advent calendar is a luxurious keepsake that will last for years to come.
This luxury ornament Advent calendar manifests holiday cheer. Behind each of the 25 doors is a fine porcelain ornament depicting beloved Peanuts characters. Some are detailed snowflakes printed with classic wintery comic-strip scenes, while others are full-figural ornaments featuring fan favorite characters like Snoopy, Charlie Brown, and Peppermint Patty.
Emily Way for Taste of Home
Families will build core memories as they unbox each day and add a new ornament to their tree. And because these are built to last for generations, they’re a fun tradition to look forward to year after year. Plus, the pretty gift-ready box makes this ornament set an ultra giftable option for Peanuts fans.
Mary Henn for Taste of Home
Pros:
- 25 exclusive confections
- Mix of classic and unexpected flavors
- Includes an illustrated map and tasting book
- Comes with keepsake holiday ornament boxes
- Features chocolatiers from across the country
Cons:
- Only includes one serving per day (unless you buy the calendar for two)
Part artwork, part delicious treats, the 2026 Dandelion Chocolate Advent calendar is a worthy splurge. Recipients enjoy 25 exclusive confections, each handcrafted by one of North America’s most inspired chocolatiers. But that’s not all—each bite is tucked inside an ornament box you can reuse on your tree!
Mary Henn For Taste Of Home
This year’s theme is chocolate inspired by Nordic tales. It also comes with an illustrated storybook with tales adapted from Nordic mythology and folklore, and a gorgeous keepsake star. Plus, enjoy videos for each day featuring Thomas DuBois, an expert in Nordic astral lore, as he shares the mythology behind each day’s tale.
It’s chocolate, so of course it’s going to be delicious. But the flavors certainly make an impression. “So far, this is my favorite chocolate Advent Calendar to date, and I’ve tested quite a few,” raves tester Mary Henn. “The overall experience has been truly exceptional—from the beautifully designed packaging and thoughtful Nordic theme to the incredible variety of chocolates and talented chocolatiers behind them. It’s been a one-of-a-kind experience from start to finish.”
Emily Way for Taste of Home
Pros:
- Wooden ornaments made to last
- Funny quips on each
- Whimsical, colorful designs
- Googly eyes—say no more
Cons:
- I wish there were more, but that's because they're so cute!
Even want to hang Christmas ham, ornaments and pie on your tree? This googly-eyed ornament Advent calendar is built to manifest giggles! It’s genuinely fun to open up each day and display your new silly ornament on your tree—especially once you read the humorous captions on each.
Emily Way for Taste of Home
This calendar sparks so much joy. From the colorful, whimsical details to the funny little quotes and googly eyes, it’s such a cute idea for kids and adults alike. There’s just something about googly eyes that transcends generation! Plus, the ornaments are reusable and sturdy, so you can enjoy them year after year. Because of the excellent quality and fun execution, opening each day feels like celebrating Christmas again and again.
At only $25, it’s incredibly budget-friendly, making it a great white elephant gift.
KATIE BANDURSKI FOR TASTE OF HOME
Pros:
- Stunning, 3D paper ornaments
- Easy to unfold and hang
- Perfect for use on a Christmas tree or holiday decorating
- Darling animal motifs
Cons:
- Only includes 12 days
This Enchanted Forest Christmas ornament countdown includes a dozen 3D ornaments in classic red, green and white hues. Each ornament is ready to hang, thanks to an included ribbon, and comes with a keepsake card., so you can also gift them to your favorite nature lover.
KATIE BANDURSKI FOR TASTE OF HOME
“I’ve tested many FreshCut Paper Advent calendars, and this new version makes a lovely gift,” shares tester Katie Bandurski. “I love that the paper ornaments can be reused year over year, and the animal designs are oh-so sweet. Plus, some Advent calendars have a massive footprint. I love that this sleek set takes up very little space.”
VIA MERCHANT
Pros:
- Easy-to-follow instructions
- No glue or tape required
- Uses soft felt
- Ornaments are of high quality
Cons:
- Not set up in a traditional calendar format
This DIY ornament Advent calendar includes all the bells and whistles for designing their own felt Christmas tree ornaments. While it’s not set up like a traditional calendar—you won’t be opening any doors—the numbered craft kids prove to be exciting enough on their own.
Tester Katie Bandurski tried this Advent calendar and confirms that it’s fun for almost any age, but tots especially will benefit from the easy instructions. Plus—and this is a big one for parents—there’s no mess!
KATIE BANDURSKI FOR TASTE OF HOME
Kids craft 25 ornaments using felt and stickers—no sewing or glue required at all. And while each ornament has its own set of picture instructions, crafters can follow their heart and create something truly unique. The only thing to consider? They might need their own mini Christmas tree to show off their creations!
How We Found the Best Ornament Advent Calendars
Our shopping team at Taste of Home consider ourselves Christmas countdown experts. From Advent calendars for women and men to options for kids, we’ve tested hundreds of Advent calendars over the years—and that’s not an exaggeration! This year alone, our team tested more than 80 different options to find the best pick for every kind of recipient. For this piece, we rounded up our favorite ornament Advent calendars available across all the categories we’ve tried.
EMILY WAY FOR TASTE OF HOME
What to Look for When Shopping for Ornament Advent Calendars
When shopping for ornament Advent calendars, the primary consideration should be who is unboxing it. For kids, focus on non-breakable options, bonus points for picks that offer an interactive element! For gifting, consider the recipient’s interests. For foodies, an edible ornament Advent calendar is a classic choice. For folks who appreciate the finer things, focus on finding an Advent calendar featuring luxury ornaments made from porcelain.
Other Calendars We Tested
- Old World Christmas Calendars: We tested two options from Old World Christmas, and were unfortunately disappointed. “For $50 I would expect this to be much higher quality,” says our tester. “This feels like more of a $20 advent. The ornaments are cute, but not high quality.”
- MindWare 12 Days Of Cross Stitch Ornaments Advent Calendar: While we love the idea of this Advent calendar, our tester’s older daughter lost interest fairly quickly, while her younger daughters found it a bit difficult. That said, it may be the right fit for a kid who loves these kinds of crafts!
FAQ
When do you start an ornament advent calendar?
That depends! For 24-day countdowns, we recommend beginning on December 1. For 12-day calendars, you have the flexibility to start unboxing on day 1, day 12—or you can opt to open a door every other day!
Why You Should Trust Us
I’ve written and edited content for digital publications, including Taste of Home, Reader’s Digest and Family Handyman. I’m well-versed in curating the internet to help readers find the absolute best buys worthy of their wallet. I’m also one of Taste of Home’s resident Christmas experts. I, along with our team of writers and editors, researched and tested dozens of holiday countdowns across every category to find the absolute best options for 2024, 2025 and 2026.
