This hot chocolate advent calendar saves you £2 a day on fancy takeaway drinks
I think I've already found my best chocolate advent calendar of 2025, which I can't wait to crack open on 1 December – but it's probably not what you think
Nowadays there are lots of different types of advent calendars to treat someone to in December – from beauty to toys – but sometimes you just can't beat a chocolate one. And this alternative option is one that I was genuinely so excited to receive.
Last month I got my hands on the new-and-improved Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser drinking chocolate machine and, despite initially thinking that it's just another kitchen appliance that I probably didn't need, I've since become obsessed with it. You can read my full review here, but in short, it makes the most delicious hot chocolate – and now cold chocolate drinks too – you've ever tried, and I find myself whizzing one up most days. So I was over the moon to discover that Hotel Chocolat has also created a Velvetiser advent calendar this year.
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The Velvetiser Drinking Chocolate Advent Calendar costs £50 has 24 doors, behind each there's a sachet of Hotel Chocolat drinking chocolate to use with your Velvetiser, in various flavours (far better than just your average cocoa, this is finely grated real chocolate, making a luxurious drink).
This means that each drink works out at just over £2 each (plus the cost of your milk of choice) – much cheaper than buying one in a Hotel Chocolat café, where they average around £4 – and I'd gladly have one of these every day in December over your average solid chocolate.
There are 16 different flavours to discover inside, from classics such as milky 50% and hazelnut praline to seasonal variations including pumpkin spice and salted caramel & clementine. Although not typically a huge fan of flavoured chocolate, I've already tried a lot of these, and haven't found a dud so far (don't knock the chilli one until you've tried it!).
Of course, you (or your recipient) really needs to already own a Velvetiser to make this worthwhile; the new model costs £149.95. Although I haven't tried this, you could however simply add your drinking chocolate to a pan of hot milk.
If you are after a traditional chocolate calendar, however, you're spoilt for choice, and they've been hitting the shops for weeks now. There's a huge selection on the Cadbury's website – including money-saving bundles – and Amazon is a good place to shop if you need one last-minute.