Advent calendars aren't just for little ones anymore. You can shop these fun countdown calendars filled with candles, stuffed with hot sauce, and jam-packed with fruit-filled mini spreads, like the limited-edition Bonne Maman Advent calendar. If you're craving a sweet holiday pick-me-up—or need a great gift for the chef on your list—we recommend picking this calendar up fast: It tends to sell out as quickly as it pops up on shelves.
The Bonne Maman Advent calendar is one of the year's most coveted gifts, with Yahoo's gifting editor Amanda Garrity calling it "the Advent calendar to get" this season. If you're wondering what all the hype is about (and how quickly you need to shop it), we've got you covered.
Behind each numbered cardstock door you'll find a 1-ounce jar of a Bonne Maman spread, which range from sweet and fruity to warm and spicy. Some of this year's flavors include caramel with coffee, lemon with elderflower, apricot and peach, pear with cocoa nibs, and rhubarb with strawberry. Each calendar comes with 24 jars that can be spread on toast, integrated into pastries, or eaten straight from the jar. They all last until July 2025, so you've got a few months before you need to worry about eating them all.
The calendar makes an excellent holiday gift for anyone who loves a delicious spread, but the tiny jars also make from wonderful additions to gifts you may already be planning, like gift baskets or silent auction arrangements. Since they're individually sealed, they can even be used as tasty stocking stuffers for each house you visit this season.
Bonne Maman preserves can be consumed without cooking, but if you're looking for some festive ways to use your new spreads, you can try any of these yummy recipes:
Cinnamon Polenta Pancakes: Forget the syrup and coat your Christmas morning pancakes with the Bonne Maman wild blueberry and maple syrup spread. The cinnamon in this recipe will pair beautifully with the sharp blueberry spread.
Easy Jam and Oat Crumb Bars: These tasty bars are perfect for fall, filled with brown sugar and rich cinnamon flavor. Pair these bars with the Bonne Maman cherry with honey spread for a truly delicious morning treat.
Gingersnap Sandwich Cookies: These holiday favorites are begging to be drizzled with a tart spread, like the Bonne Maman raspberry with rose spread. Bonus points if you can warm your spread for a few seconds in the microwave before drizzling.
Grandma's Homemade Jam Donuts: If you're going through the effort of making your own donuts, you need to fill them with an equally high-quality jam—try the Bonne Maman strawberry and wild strawberry spread for a classic jam donut. If you want to get a little more adventurous, fill your donuts with a more unexpected combination, like the Bonne Maman rhubarb and spice blend.
Grilled Ham and Cheese with Strawberry-Red-Wine Jam: This delicious adult grilled cheese is begging for a classic spread that pairs well with Pino Noir. The recipe calls for strawberry, but the Bonne Maman mirabelle plum with linden spread would take this dish to the next level.
Jam-Filled Mezzaluna Cookies: Your Advent calendar just became the whole neighborhood's gift. Each cookie takes a spoonful of jam, so if you're looking for a recipe that will help you sample each jar, make yourself a dozen of these cookies with this shockingly uncomplicated recipe.
It's Advent calendar season, so many of our favorite brands are putting out really incredible (and unique) options for 2024. Whether you're shopping for a 2-year-old or 20-year-old, these are some of the best Advent calendars we've found this year so far.
