The best allergy free advent calendars for kids (2023)

There’s something for everyone in this round up of the best allergy free advent calendars for kids. Whether you need dairy & soy free, nut free, gluten free, or all of the above, I’ve got you covered. There’s even a section of totally food-free advent calendars for kids, if you’re looking to avoid that daily dose of sugar for a little bit longer!

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We all want our children to be able to join in with festive traditions, but for kids with allergies something as simple as an advent calendar is not so straightforward. 

The good news is that each year more allergy friendly products are appearing. The bad news is that they do often sell out. So, you need to plan ahead! Take it from someone who has previously tried, and failed, to buy a dairy, soy & gluten free advent calendar at the end of November…. These days I am much more cautious – some may say overly cautious 😂.

Here I am sharing chocolate advent calendars which are totally free from dairy, soy, gluten and nuts, as well as some extra options for those of you whose children are just milk and/or soy free. I’ve also got plenty of food-free ideas for anyone who wants the fun of the advent calendar without the daily dose of sugar. And at the opposite end of the spectrum, a completely sweet filled calendar!

Finally, making your own calendar can be a good way to give a mix of sweet treats and healthier options. In the long run this can work out more cost effective, as many fill-your-own calendars can be reused each year. Scroll down the end of this post if you want tips on how to make your own. 

The best allergy free chocolate advent calendars for kids  

The following list of allergy friendly advent calendars for kids should give you plenty to choose from! I have included the allergy information for each product. If there are any may contain warnings on the packaging then I have specified this so you can make an informed decision. Remember that ingredients can change without warning, so always double check.

Nomo creamy chocolate drops advent calendar

NoMo (which pleasingly stands for No Missing Out) have a fantastic Christmas range* this year. Their advent calendar is a traditional 24 window version filled with their delicious creamy chocs. It has a big picture of Santa on the front which kids will love!

They also have loads of Christmas themed chocolates*; by far the best range I’ve seen. It includes a hollow chocolate reindeer, cookie dough and chocolate fudge filled reindeer, and a lovely little selection box for kids. There are also some classic Christmassy flavours which will appeal to the adults – chocolate orange crunch and chocolate mint sharing boxes. Yum!

Allergen info: Nomo state that the advent calendars are suitable for people with milk, egg, gluten, peanut and tree nut allergy. Regarding soya they say “whilst we take every precaution to avoid cross contamination with Soya, please be aware we do not declare these products as ‘Soya Free’.“

Moo Free vegan milk chocolate advent calendar

Moo Free have long been making kid friendly free-from chocolates. In the last couple of years their range has grown considerably. This year their Christmas offering includes a milk chocolate advent calendar, a Christmas cracker shaped selection box, white choccy snowballs and more! My kids love Moo Free, so this is often my go-to purchase. It’s also among the most affordable options on the market, and widely available in the UK.

Allergen info: Dairy free, gluten free, soya free. There are no nuts in the ingredients list and regarding cross contamination risk they say “While we’re not a certified nut free facility, we have strict allergen controls on site, we operate a dedicated ‘Free From’ chocolate production facility, we do not handle any allergens. All raw material suppliers are risk assessed to ensure that there are no allergen cross-contamination risks in the supply chain.”

Sainsbury’s free from choc advent calendar

It’s great to see some of the main UK supermarkets stepping up and offering more free from options. At £3.00 this Sainsbury’s calendar is one of the cheapest options on the list, and kids will love the cute penguins on the front.

Allergen info: Milk and gluten free. There are no nuts or soya on the ingredients list.

H!P oat milk advent calendar – plant based and plastic free

H!P oat milk chocolate comes in a large array of flavours, and in the advent calendar you will get to try four of them! Including Creamy Original Plain Bar, Gingerbread, Salted Caramel & White Chocolate, there is more variety than in any of the other free-from options. As a bonus, this is a plastic free product. 

Allergen info: The ingredients list is free from dairy, soya, nuts and gluten. However, there is a ‘may contain’ warning for all of these. 

PLAYin Choc plastic free and allergy free advent calendar

This fun calendar combines allergy free chocolates with festive toys and some fact cards – so that’s three treats every day! This company has a strong planet friendly focus, and the outer sleeve can be opened up to make a Christmas landscape to play with the festive toys on!

This is among the most expensive options, but if you’re looking for a plastic free option and would like a mix of chocs and toys, then this is a great choice.

Allergen info: Dairy, Nut, Gluten & Soy free

Candy Kitten gourmet sweets advent calendar

If you’re looking for an alternative to chocolate but still want a sweet treat, this Candy Kittens calendar* could be the one! It includes two vegan sweets a day, plus a full size bag on Christmas Eve. The flavours include wild strawberry, sour watermelon, very cherry, eton mess, raspberry & guava, shox apple, and shox strawberry.

Allergen info: Candy Kittens are produced with a dairy free, nut free, gluten free & soy free recipe. The calendars are packed in a factory that handles dairy, peanuts, nuts and sesame.

Alternatives to chocolate advent calendars for kids – completely allergy free!

If you’d rather steer clear of sweet treats altogether, there are now plenty of non-food options. This is a good way to be sure you are getting a totally allergy free calendar.

Activity & toy advent calendars are a better option for those who would rather not give a daily sweet treat. And many younger kids will be just as delighted with the offerings below as they would be with a chocolate! I stuck with these alternatives for as long as I could get away with…

Here’s my pick of the best options out there: 

• Playmobil has a whole range of calendars to choose from. My favourite is this Christmas Toy Shop* set, aimed at age 4 and over. They also have options for younger children, and lots of themed calendars for older kids, ranging from Asterix to Magical Mermaids!

• There are some really lovely advent book sets available, featuring 24 mini books. If you have a story lover then this is a perfect choice. Enjoy the books all year round! Two of the nicest I’ve seen are the Usbourne advent book collection* and the Gruffalo & friends* set which includes colouring, drawing and activity books.

• If you have a train fan, this Brio calendar* could be the perfect option. Each door features a toy that is compatible with the Brio World railway system. They can be enjoyed long after advent has finished!

• This Peter Rabbit advent calendar* is filled with wooden toys which end up making a sweet Christmas themed playset. It is suitable for age 12 months plus. Great for any animal lovers, and perfect if you’re trying to avoid plastic toys.

• For slightly older children, Lego advent calendars* are a fantastic option. As well as Christmas themed calendars, there are a whole range to suit different interests. Once opened, they can be added to your Lego collection to be played with all year! 

Make your own allergy free advent calendar! 

If you would prefer a mix of chocolate, healthier options and toys, then making your own allergy free advent calendar could be the way to go! Long term this can also be a more sustainable and cost effective option. If you buy a nice ‘fill your own’ calendar it can be used year after year, and doubles as a Christmas decoration. For many people this becomes one of their much loved festive traditions. 

There are a number of different styles of ‘fill your own calendars’ around. Here are a few options:

• Kids will love this tall hanging Santa* with fillable pockets
• The wooden house with drawers to fill doubles up as a craft activity!
• If you’d rather skip the craft (I would!), this Christmas tree option has done the work for you
• For a more stylish option, I would go for this fabric pocket design* which can hang on the wall – still lots of fun, but may blend into your home decor a bit better! 

Ideas to fill your DIY allergy free advent calendar:

• Christmas shaped chocs – you can make your own by melting free from chocolate into a silicone mould (I have this one*).  If want to give this a go, check out my how-to guide!
• Nomo chocolate lollies or Moo Free choccy rocks
• Mini packets of raisins or other dried fruits
• Small toys such as crayons, bath toys, mini cars, stickers 
• Fruit & small biscuits wrapped in foil
• Christmas decorations to add to the tree

Spotted any great allergy friendly advent calendars which are not on my list? Comment below and let me know!

And if you’re moving on to thinking about Easter, check out my round up of the best allergy friendly Easter treats for kids x