I always make treats for gifts during the holidays too and I agree on the hot cocoa. You can add fressh chopped chocolate to the mix to splash it up and then have a bag of homemade peppermint marshmallows to go in the cocoa.
Another idea to incorporate your vanilla (which I think is great) is chocolate chip cookies in a jar. You can twist it up by making your own chocolate chunks by melting some semi-sweet chocolate and adding a touch of orange or mint extract and then spread it in a jelly roll pan until it cools. Then just chop up good size chunks to add to the mix. You have a mix with a special kick.
All the other ideas are great too. I try to come up with something new every year but the cocoa is expected now by friends and neighbors.
The site sounds great. I am going to check it out! Thanks