Door by Door: How to Make Your Own Advent Calendar
Few things say “you matter to me” like a homemade advent calendar. But let’s be real: Christmas is racing toward us, and as soon as you start filling the calendar, you’re staring at 24 empty doors and wondering if you really need all of them. To keep you from running out of ideas by day three, we did the prep work. We’ll show you how to wrap your calendar, give you plenty of ideas for filling it, and for all the last-minute crew, there’s even a ready-made 24-door list. Whether you’re making it for adults or kids, besties or partners, there’s something here for everyone.
It’s a Wrap: Creative Packaging for 24 Doors
A DIY advent calendar doesn’t have to mean hot glue everywhere, paper scraps in the carpet and a month-long craft marathon. You can pull together a set that looks festive and works again next year. Future you (or whoever you’re gifting) will thank you!
- Fabric or jute bags: A classic! They bring instant cozy vibes, hold all kinds of little goodies and can be reused year after year.
- Empty nut butter jars: KoRo fans know the unwritten rule: never toss an empty jar! They’re perfect for small treats. Add a ribbon and a tag, and you’re done.
- Small envelopes: Great for flat surprises like vouchers or recipe cards. Bonus: they hardly take up any space.
- Paper bags: Handy for snacks and small DIY gifts. Paint them yourself and your calendar gets a personal touch.
- Storage containers: Tins or lunch boxes work beautifully and move straight into your kitchen afterwards.
Can’t decide? Mix and match! A few bags, a few jars, a few envelopes, and your calendar is ready. Pinterest-worthy, too.
Pretty Outside, Yummy Inside: Filling Your Advent Calendar
We’ve all been there: you grab goodies for your calendar with no plan, and suddenly it costs more than all your Christmas presents combined. A little planning goes a long way. So we’ve rounded up some ideas to get you started.
Homemade & Heartmade: DIY Gifts
Quick reminder: with an advent calendar, it’s the thought that counts, not the price tag or perfection. So go ahead and make a few things yourself.
- Fresh-baked cookies or candied almonds (best saved for one of the first doors)
- Handwritten letters and affirmations
- Fun facts about the history of the advent calendar
- Homemade spice or baking mixes
Snacks That Always Hit the Spot
Advent, Advent, door by door, every day needs a snack for sure! If you’re filling your advent calendar yourself, tasty snacks are a (luckily) a must. December may be all about chocolate, but we’re widening the snack universe with a few of our favorite little treats.
Tiny Kitchen Missions & Recipe Ideas
A few handwritten recipe cards cost next to nothing, but they add a lot of heart. You’ll find plenty of inspiration in our recipe tool. Who knows, you might end up with a full Christmas menu!
Sharing Is Caring: Portioning Bulk Packs
Buy a bulk pack, split it into jars and little bags, and you’ve got your calendar filling. The best part? The leftovers are all yours. Sharing is caring, but so is treating yourself!
Pro tip: Not every door has to be different. Repeats are totally fine, and they’re often welcome when a favorite pops up again.
Vouchers & Quality Time
The best gift? You guessed it: time together! It costs nothing but feels priceless. Just write it down, pop it in an envelope and you’re set.
- Baking cookies together
- Winter walk + cocoa break
- Christmas movie night (you bring the snacks!)
- Moral support while Christmas shopping, or a massage afterwards
The Ultimate 24-Door List
Ran out of ideas just reading this? We’ve got you. Use our plan as is or tweak it for your loved ones. Swap in whatever snacks you like, we’ve got plenty.
- Homemade candied almonds
- Voucher: “Moral support while Christmas shopping, or a massage afterwards”
- Organic Energy Ball Cashew Cinnamon
- Recipe card: Radicchio salad with citrus and roasted hazelnuts
- Snack portion: Organic cashews with olive and rosemary
- Organic Cookie Caramelized Almond
- Homemade spice mix
- Handwritten fun fact
- Snack portion: Apple chips with cinnamon
- Voucher: Baking cookies together
- Recipe card: Jackfruit goulash with mashed potatoes and crispy onion topping
- Organic Mini Spekulatius
- Voucher: Christmas movie night
- Snack portion: Freeze-dried strawberry slices
- Handwritten letter: “Why you’re awesome”
- Recipe card: Spekulatius tiramisu
- Organic Dark Chocolate Bites Orange
- Voucher: Walk with a cocoa or coffee break
- Homemade baking mix
- Snack portion: Salted Caramel roasted peanuts
- Handwritten affirmation
- Organic Nut Butter Cups Salty Hazelnut
- Recipe card: Vegan Bûche de Noël
- The grand finale: Light organic hazelnut spread, aka our “Buena Creme”
Your Shortcut: Mix & Match Advent Calendar
If your head is already spinning, we’ve got you. In our advent calendar category, we’ve cut the prep work down to almost nothing.
With our mix & match sets, you can put your calendar together in no time. Each set contains exactly 4 favorite products. Pick six sets and all 24 doors are filled, with no overthinking and plenty of variety. You can choose from protein bars, dried & choco fruits, wafer bars & oat bars, protein duos, our seasonal nut butter cups and more.
The best part? Choose six sets and you automatically get 10% off. Whether you go all-in on DIY or keep it cozy and ready-to-eat, you decide how to sweeten the holiday season for your people. As long as the stress-snack balance is right!
Skip Ahead: Discover Christmas Gifts
Want to skip advent this year and jump straight to the gifts? We get it. Sometimes planning the big moments is more fun than counting doors. Get comfy, grab a cup of hot cocoa and let our gift guide inspire you. Or head straight to the shop and browse our gift ideas.
Plenty of lovely surprises are waiting for you, perfect for anyone you’d like to put a smile on the face of this year. Maybe a nut butter tasting set for your best friends, a gift box of nut butter cups for the neighbors who always take in your packages, or a gift card for your slightly picky siblings. It’s your call, and the options are as varied as the people on your list.
