I've made a yeast bread ring similar to the photo before, with a cranberry-pecan filling. It is just a different shape - no more difficult.
Food gifts I've given - biscotti, bread (yeast, sweet, quick), cookies, homemade mulling spices (smelled fabulous, with whole spices - beautiful to look at, too), granola (for some reason people think it is difficult to make!), homemade whole grain pancake mix (with a bottle of real maple syrup)...
I've made vanilla for myself before. Pretty easy, but it definitely was not as concentrated in the vanilla flavor as commercial pure vanilla extract.