Food Advent Calendars: Bonne Maman Jam, Cheese, Ramen and Snacks

The best food advent calendar matches how the person eats. Jam and breakfast fans get Bonne Maman’s 24 limited-edition jars. Cheese lovers look to Aldi, Murray’s and Tillamook, whose calendars need a fridge. Savory cooks have Fly By Jing’s noodles and chili sauces. Order early, read the allergen line, and plan for refrigerated delivery. No alcohol here.

First, what this page leaves out

We do not cover wine, beer, spirits or liqueur calendars, and we do not link to them. That rule reaches into food too. The Cheese Professor lists cheese calendars that include whiskey-washed or ale-washed cheeses, and there are chocolate calendars filled with liqueur. Those are left out. For sweet calendars without alcohol, see our tea, coffee and chocolate advent calendar guide.

Food advent calendars at a glance

Bonne Maman jam advent calendar

This is the food calendar most people have heard of. Bonne Maman USA describes its 2026 calendar as “24 unique limited edition jams & spreads.” The flavors it names include Caramel with Salted Butter, Strawberry with Madagascar Vanilla and Raspberry with Dark Chocolate, which the brand says are only sold during the holidays. Tasting Table described the jars in the 2025 edition as one ounce each.

Buying rules to know before you order:

• It is labeled a web exclusive on the Bonne Maman USA site.
• There is a maximum of 3 calendars per order, and all sales are final.
• It ships right away and cannot be held for a later delivery date, with delivery estimated at 2 to 8 business days.
• Bonne Maman says to enjoy the jams before June 2027 for the best flavor.

Hip2Save reported the 2026 calendar on Amazon in September 2026. We found no dated source confirming it at other big-box stores.

Bonne Maman does not print a full ingredient list for each jar on the calendar page. If someone avoids a specific ingredient, including alcohol used as a flavoring, check the jar labels when the calendar arrives.

Cheese advent calendars

Cheese calendars are the most popular savory option, and nearly all of them need a refrigerator.

Aldi Emporium Selection. For 2025, Chowhound reported a 24-day Winter Wonderland Cheese Advent Calendar with “specialty cheeses produced all over Europe,” in the refrigerated aisle from November 5. Aldi Reviewer also covered a 12-day version with 12 cheeses made from Wisconsin milk, including Fontina, Gouda, Smoked Cheddar and Pepper Jack. Aldi calendars are a seasonal in-store item, so the lineup changes each year. Read the list on the box: Aldi Reviewer’s list for the 2024 calendar included a cheddar made with whiskey.

12 Days of Murray’s. Sporked describes over 2.5 pounds of food in 14 items for 2025: nine cheeses, four jams and crackers. Tasting Table mentions a truffle cheddar and a 12-month aged gouda.

Twelve Days of Tillamook. Six kinds of cheddar (not shredded, Sporked notes) and six other surprises in the 2025 edition.

How to keep a cheese calendar safe

Aldi Reviewer says Aldi’s calendar is kept refrigerated in stores and should be kept refrigerated at home. The FDA advises:

• Keep the refrigerator at or below 40°F (4°C).
• Do not leave foods that need refrigeration at room temperature for more than two hours, or one hour above 90°F.

For a mail-order cheese calendar, open the box as soon as it arrives and get it into the fridge. If a refrigerated calendar arrives warm, contact the seller before eating anything from it.

Ramen and savory pantry calendars

Ramen calendars have a following, but a true instant noodle calendar is hard to find in the U.S. The best-known one, the Nissin Instant Noodle Advent Calendar, was sold in Germany; The Ramen Rater reviewed its 24 items for 2025, including Demae Ramen, Cup Noodles and soba.

The closest widely sold option in the U.S. is Fly By Jing. The brand lists a 2026 Limited Edition 24-Day and a 12-Day Advent Calendar. Sporked reports that the contents include condiments, dry ingredients and ramen, with preorders on Fly By Jing’s site and shipping from October 15. It suits someone who cooks noodles at home and likes Sichuan heat.

Build a ramen advent calendar yourself

A DIY ramen calendar is easy because instant noodles are shelf-stable and fit a small box.

1. Choose 12 or 24 packs or cups, mixing brands and heat levels.
2. Add a few extras on some days: a chili oil, a seasoning, a pair of chopsticks.
3. Number each pack and line them up in a box with dividers, or use a large cubby calendar.

Our reusable advent calendar guide covers empty calendars big enough for noodle cups.

Snack and cookie calendars

For the snacker rather than the cook:

• Bokksu. A 24-day Japanese snack calendar. For 2025 Bokksu listed yuzu candies, matcha cookies, senbei and mochi, and said orders would ship in early November.
• Walker’s Shortbread. Tasting Table lists six kinds of shortbread treats, including mini chocolate chip shortbreads and salted caramel squares.
• See’s Candies. Tasting Table describes 24 different See’s classics.
• Harry & David. Tasting Table lists a large calendar ranging from Moose Munch popcorn to smoked summer sausage and baklava. Check the storage line on any calendar that includes meat.

Before you buy any food calendar

Read the allergen statement. U.S. labels must name any of the nine major allergens: milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans and sesame. Sesame was added on January 1, 2023, according to the FDA. Mixed calendars can include several of them.

Check the date. The FDA says a “Best if Used By” date marks the best flavor and quality, not safety. Still, a gift should arrive well within it. Avoid last year’s food calendars on resale sites.

Plan the delivery. Refrigerated calendars need someone home to receive them. Shelf-stable ones can wait, but chocolate pieces in snack calendars can melt in a warm mailbox.

Buying on eBay? Stick to new, sealed calendars from the current season, ask for a photo of the date, and avoid refrigerated cheese calendars from individual sellers, since you cannot confirm how they were stored.

More advent calendar guides

For gifts by hobby, including anglers and home cooks, see our advent calendars for adults. If they prefer a drink to a snack, the energy drink advent calendar guide covers Red Bull’s can calendar. For every category, start from the best advent calendars of 2026.