The Best Food-Themed Advent Calendars Coming To Sam's Club For 2021

Well over a century ago, young Gerhard Lang was anxiously awaiting Christmas Day when his mom created, just for him, a calendar marking each of the 24 days leading up to Christmas with a designated sweet treat, according to the German Weihnachtsmuseum Christmas museum. Inspired by those happy memories, Lang later invented a commercial advent calendar at the turn of the 20th century. It wasn't long before the concept caught on, particularly for parents who wanted to enhance their children's anticipation of the Christmas holiday.

Although advent calendars can take a variety of forms, the classic version features a calendar containing numbered flaps to be opened once per day to find some kind of small gift. Although that present could be as modest as a note, advent calendars in recent years have leveled up to feature increasingly creative and extravagant treats, from bath bombs to jewelry, according to AP. This year, Sam's Club has joined the fun with a collection of some of the tastiest food-themed advent calendars we've seen. There are boozy advent calendars. There's a cheesy advent calendar. Need we go on?

This 12 Wines of Christmas advent calendar features picks for Chardonnay and Cabernet lovers alike. Specifically, it contains 12 mini bottles (187 milliliters each) of a dozen different wines for each festive day of your holiday countdown. Though it comes in a box, it still carries on the classic calendar format with 12 perforated window flaps where you can access your daily wine. Pick up one of these calendars, adorned with holiday sweaters, for $37.98 at Sam's Club.

The Ilchester Cheese Advent Calendar features two dozen individually wrapped, vegetarian-friendly cheeses in nine different varieties. Altogether, you get a total of 16.8 ounces of cheeses to taste, with each bite bringing you one day closer to Christmas. The package of applewood-smoked cheddar, aged red Leicester, double Gloucester, and more costs $14.88.

If Christmas "spirit" is what you're after, look no further than this Member's Mark 24 Days of Spirits Countdown Calendar. With 24 different 50-milliliter bottles of high-quality, award-winning Member's Mark spirits, this advent pack promises plenty of Christmas glee to go around for $22.98. If you're not a cocktail expert, don't worry, the package also includes a related recipe for each bottle of rum, tequila, vodka, and more.

While it's true that liquor might be quicker, candy is certainly dandy, especially when it's from Ghirardelli. Treats from the chocolate brand, along with goodies from Walkers and Harry & David, are what you'll find in this gourmet Countdown to the Holidays Oversized Holiday Advent Countdown Gift. Treat yourself to chocolate truffles, shortbread cookies, and sweet popcorn each day of the pre-Christmas countdown for $16.98.

There's no denying that tiny kitchens and the tiny food that gets cooked in them are trending big these days. So, this Zuru 5 Surprise Advent Calendar, which features 24 miniature mystery toys that are meant to look like your family's favorite grocery items, is sure to be a crowd-pleaser for all fun-size food fans. Buy it at Sam's Club for $22.98.