With the holiday season fast approaching, many people are starting to think about advent calendars. Advent calendars are a fun way to count down the days until Christmas, often containing little treats or surprises behind each door. However, for those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, checking the ingredients on advent calendars is crucial. Thankfully, there are many gluten-free advent calendar options available nowadays.
In this article, we will explore the topic of gluten free advent calendars in depth. We will cover what advent calendars are, why someone may need a gluten free version, what to look for when selecting a gluten free advent calendar, which brands offer gluten free options, reviews of popular gluten free advent calendars, and tips for finding the best gluten free advent calendar for your needs.
Whether you have celiac disease yourself or are shopping for a gift for someone who follows a gluten free diet, this article will provide you with everything you need to know to choose the ideal gluten free advent calendar this holiday season.
What Are Advent Calendars?
Advent calendars are a longstanding Christmas tradition that originally started in Germany in the 19th century. These festive calendars contain 24 or 25 little compartments, one for each day leading up to Christmas. The individual compartments are filled with small candies, chocolates, toys, or other Christmastime treats. Many advent calendars also include Christmas scenes or imagery behind each door.
Part of the fun of advent calendars is opening the little door each day in December and discovering what is inside. It helps build excitement and anticipation as Christmas draws nearer. The treats inside are often enjoyed along with a cup of hot chocolate or tea.
Advent calendars are enjoyed not just by children but also by adults. Some companies now offer adult advent calendars with wine, beer, jewelry, cosmetics, and other gifts inside. The variety of advent calendars available today is enormous.
Why Choose a Gluten Free Advent Calendar?
For those who must follow a gluten free diet for medical reasons, having a gluten free advent calendar is crucial. People with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity cannot consume gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. If a gluten free person consumes even a small amount of gluten, it can cause major health issues and damage to their digestive system.
Reading ingredient labels carefully is a fact of life for anyone with celiac disease or gluten intolerance. Since many traditional advent calendars contain glutenous candies or chocolates, they are unsuitable and unsafe for those on a medically prescribed gluten free diet.
Thankfully, as awareness of celiac disease and gluten sensitivity has grown in recent years, so has the number of gluten free advent calendars on the market. Major candy companies now produce some candies and chocolates that are gluten free. There are also many advent calendars designed to be specifically gluten free and safe for those with celiac disease.
What to Look for in a Gluten Free Advent Calendar
When selecting a gluten free advent calendar, read labels carefully and look for products advertised as 100% gluten free. Since even trace amounts of gluten can make someone with celiac disease sick, products labeled as just “gluten friendly” are not safe enough. The advent calendar should state clearly on the packaging that it is gluten free and does not contain wheat, barley or rye.
Ideally, the gluten free advent calendar will be produced by a company that specializes in gluten free foods and operates a dedicated gluten free facility. Cross contamination is a concern if gluten free products are made alongside gluten-containing foods. Reputable gluten free brands will take precautions to avoid any cross contamination in their facilities and during production.
Gluten free advent calendars should have individually wrapped treats so you can double check the label on each item. The best calendars will also include information on the packaging about what allergens each item contains.
Look for gluten free advent calendars from trusted brands you already buy from regularly for your gluten free diet. Companies that specialize in gluten free foods typically have knowledgeable customer service as well, in case you need to call and ask questions before purchasing.
Popular Brands with Gluten Free Advent Calendars
Here are some of the top brands producing gluten free advent calendars for Christmas 2022:
- YumEarth Organics – organic gluten free advent calendar with fruit snacks and chocolates
- MadeGood – allergy-friendly and nutrient-rich advent calendar
- Enjoy Life Foods – top free-from brand with gluten free advent calendar
- Lucy’s – longstanding gluten free company with cookie advent calendar
- Glutino – gluten and dairy free advent calendar with cookies
- GoGo Quinoa – quinoa snacks advent calendar, gluten and peanut free
- VerMints – gluten and allergy free advent calendar with mints
- SmartSweets – low sugar candy advent calendar, gluten free
- Annie’s Homegrown – gluten free cookie and cracker advent calendar
- VOORTMAN – gluten free advent calendar with cookies
The list above provides a sampling of some of the top gluten free advent calendars on the market. There are more being released each year as this category expands. Even mainstream candy brands like Hershey’s now offer some gluten free advent calendars.
Gluten Free Candy Advent Calendars
For kids and adults who want an advent calendar filled with candy, there are many gluten free options on shelves nowadays. Here are reviews of some top rated gluten free candy advent calendars:
YumEarth Organic Gluten Free Advent Calendar
YumEarth is a popular brand that specializes in organic gluten free candy. Their gluten free advent calendar includes 19 YumEarth fruit snacks and 5 chocolate covered fruit snacks. It’s free of the top 11 allergens including wheat, gluten, dairy, nuts, eggs and soy. The fruit snacks are sweetened with cane sugar and fruit juices. Parents say this calendar is perfect for kids with food allergies.
Enjoy Life Foods Gluten Free Advent Calendar
Enjoy Life Foods is arguably the biggest name in the gluten free allergy-friendly space. Their gluten free advent calendar includes 24 mini bags of their best selling soft baked cookies and chocolate chips. It’s free from gluten, wheat, dairy, tree nuts, peanuts, casein, soy, eggs, fish and shellfish. Fans praise Enjoy Life for making the holiday season easier for families avoiding allergens.
MadeGood Gluten Free Advent Calendar
This advent calendar from MadeGood offers bite sized versions of their gluten free healthy granola snacks behind each door. It includes chocolate chip, cherry berry, and vanilla crisp mini bars. They are made in a dedicated nut-free facility and free of gluten, nuts, dairy, eggs and soy. MadeGood uses wholesome organic ingredients. Reviewers say this calendar is delicious and allergy-mom approved!
Gluten Free Cookie Advent Calendars
For those who enjoy cookie treats, these gluten free cookie advent calendars are full of delicious options:
Lucy’s Gluten Free Cookie Advent Calendar
Lucy’s makes gluten free cookies, bars, and bites using certified gluten free oats. Their gluten free advent calendar includes 24 mini cookies in 5 festive flavors: sugar, snickerdoodle, gingerbread, chocolate chip, and holiday spice. Lucy’s operates a peanut and tree nut free bakery. Parents of kids with food allergies praise this calendar.
VOORTMAN Gluten Free Advent Calendar
VOORTMAN is known for their gluten free wafers and cookies. Their gluten free advent calendar includes 24 mini cookies in vanilla, chocolate and assorted flavors. VOORTMAN products are made in a dedicated gluten free and peanut free facility. Consumers say these cookies are delicious and comparable to traditional holiday cookies.
Glutino Gluten Free Advent Calendar
Popular gluten free brand Glutino offers a dairy and gluten free advent calendar filled with bite sized cookies. It includes chocolate chip, vanilla, and assorted mini cookies made with Glutino’s gluten free baking mix. Glutino operates a certified gluten free facility for safety. This cookie calendar gets rave reviews from gluten free families.
Gluten Free Snack and Treat Advent Calendars
For something a little different, here are some top rated gluten free advent calendars focused on snacks:
GoGo Quinoa Gluten Free Advent Calendar
GoGo Quinoa has a gluten free advent calendar filled with single serve quinoa snack bags in sweet and salty flavors like pretzels, chocolate chip, and apple cinnamon. It’s also peanut free, non-GMO, vegan, and kosher. Reviewers say this quinoa calendar is perfect for school lunches and provides a healthy alternative to candy calendars.
SmartSweets Gluten Free Advent Calendar
This gluten free advent calendar from SmartSweets includes 24 low sugar gummy candies in berry, peach, and sour blast flavors. At only 3g of sugar per serving, SmartSweets are a reduced sugar candy option. The advent calendar is free of gluten, wheat, nuts, dairy, eggs, soy, gelatin and artificial sweeteners. Fans love enjoying these tangy gluten free candies up till Christmas.
VerMints Gluten Free Advent Calendar
If you prefer minty treats, Vermont-based VerMints offers a gluten free, vegan and allergen free advent calendar. It’s filled with 24 naturally flavored mints in peppermint, wintergreen, and cinnamon flavors. Each mint is individually wrapped and free of gluten, wheat, dairy, soy, nuts, eggs and gelatin. Reviewers say these refreshing mints make a perfect gluten free advent calendar.
Tips for Finding the Best Gluten Free Advent Calendar
Here are some helpful tips for locating the perfect gluten free advent calendar for you or your loved ones this Christmas season:
- Start looking early – gluten free advent calendars often sell out.
- Stick to brands you trust for gluten free products year-round.
- Carefully read all labels and product info.
- Contact companies directly with any questions or concerns.
- Look for dedicated gluten free facilities to avoid cross contamination.
- Compare gluten free advent calendar options online.
- Choose calendar themes that match your taste – candy, cookies, snacks, etc.
- Consider ordering two gluten free calendars and enjoying them together!
The key is finding a reputable brand that clearly labels gluten free ingredients and takes steps to avoid cross contamination during production. With so many options nowadays, there is a perfect gluten free advent calendar out there for everyone.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are now many high quality gluten free advent calendars available to safely allow those with celiac disease and gluten intolerance to participate in the fun tradition of opening the holiday countdown each December. Leading gluten free brands like YumEarth, Enjoy Life Foods, Lucy’s, VOORTMAN, and more are making the season brighter for gluten free households.
Carefully read all labels and product info when selecting a gluten free advent calendar this year. Stick to trusted brands, dedicated facilities, and individually wrapped treats to ensure safety. With more choices each holiday season, you can find the ideal gluten free advent calendar filled with goodies you will look forward to unwrapping each day until Christmas.
