Office Holiday Party Desserts: What to Order for Your Team

By the Strixly Cupcakes team · Published November 7, 2026 · 6 min read

The office holiday party is often the one time all year the whole team sits down together, and dessert is the part people remember. The easiest office party desserts are single-serve treats that need no cutting, look good on a break room table and can be grabbed between meetings: cupcakes, cake pops, dipped pretzels, Rice Krispy treats and dipped strawberries. This guide covers what to order, how much your team will need, how to serve it at work and the pickup dates to plan around for December 2026.

What Desserts Work Best for an Office Holiday Party?

Single-serve desserts work best at the office. Nobody has to find a knife, cut even slices or stand at the table serving, and people can take a treat back to their desk if a call runs long.

• Grab and go: cupcakes, cake pops, cakesicles, dipped pretzels and popcorn bags.
• A little fancier: dipped strawberries, cheesecake shooters and gourmet apples for a client lunch or a leadership team.
• Easy to wrap: cake pops, pretzels and Rice Krispy treats can be bagged and tied, so leftovers stay neat and can go home with people.

How Many Treats Should You Order for Your Team?

For a mix of small treats such as cake pops, pretzels and strawberries, plan on about two pieces per person when dessert is the main sweet, and closer to one per person if there is also a cake, cookies or a potluck dessert table. For cupcakes alone, about 80 to 90 percent of your head count is usually plenty, because some coworkers skip dessert.

Offices are a little different from family parties. Some people skip dessert, others take one for later, and people from another department may stop by once word gets around. A small cushion keeps you from running out before the last shift arrives.

For cupcake-only orders, our guide to how many cupcakes you need for a party walks through the math in more detail.

Party Packages Make Ordering for a Group Simple

A party package is the simplest way to feed a team, because one order covers several kinds of treats in matching colors. You choose the colors or theme, and the variety is already planned for you.

Each package also comes in a themed version that decorates the treats to match your party, such as snowflakes, ornaments or a winter wonderland look, for a higher price. Listed prices are starting prices, confirmed when your order is accepted. You can see every option on our party packages page.

Cupcakes for the Break Room

Cupcakes are the classic office party dessert because almost everyone likes at least one flavor. Ordering two or three flavors gives the team a choice without making the order complicated.

Standard sized cupcakes come by the half dozen, starting at $10, in white, chocolate, lemon, red velvet, strawberry and yellow. Red velvet with cream cheese icing feels right for the holidays, and our red velvet cupcake guide explains what makes it special. For a smaller team that wants something richer, jumbo specialty cupcakes such as cookies 'n creme start at $6 each.

Not sure what your coworkers like? A mix of chocolate, white and red velvet is a safe start, and the cupcake flavors guide describes each one.

Small Gifts for Coworkers and the Boss

Treats double as easy coworker gifts when they come individually wrapped. They are thoughtful without being personal, and they fit almost any gift exchange budget.

• Hot cocoa bomb cups: chocolate cups filled with cocoa mix and marshmallows that melt into a mug of hot chocolate when you pour hot milk over them, $4.50 each. Read more in our cocoa bomb cups guide.
• Bagged cake pops or pretzels: tie them with a ribbon in your company colors and set one at each seat as a party favor.
• A monogram or number box: a monogram cupcake box holds 9 to 10 cupcakes and 2 dipped pretzels per letter, from $40, and it works well for a team gift or a department's initial.
• Something for a manager or client: a cupcake bouquet or a strawberry gift box feels more special. Our Christmas dessert gift ideas list more options.

Serving Desserts Safely at Work

Keep perishable treats cold until the party starts, and put them away again when it ends. Dipped strawberries, cheesecake shooters and cream cheese filled treats should not sit out all afternoon.

The USDA advises against leaving perishable food in the "danger zone" between 40°F and 140°F for more than two hours. Use the break room fridge and set out a little at a time. Buttercream cupcakes, pretzels, popcorn and Rice Krispy treats are more forgiving, which makes them good choices for an all-day open house.

Allergy Notes for a Mixed Office

A workplace brings together people with many different diets, so ask about allergies before you order and label each tray.

The FDA lists nine major food allergens, and sesame became the ninth under the FASTER Act. Several of them are common in desserts, including milk, eggs, wheat, peanuts and tree nuts. On our menu, Reese's cupcakes contain peanut butter cups and turtle cupcakes are topped with pecans, so keep those on a separate tray if anyone has a nut allergy. Tell us about allergies when you order. You can read more about food allergies here.

For coworkers watching their sugar, sugar-free cupcakes start at $16 per half dozen. Our sugar-free treats guide explains the options.

When to Order for December 2026

Order at least one to two weeks ahead for December office parties. Same-week orders close at 5 pm on Tuesday, and an order is secured once the deposit of half the total is paid.

Regular pickup is Thursday and Friday from 4:30 to 8:30 pm and Saturday from 11 am to 2 pm. If your party is on a Monday or Tuesday, pick up the Friday or Saturday before and choose treats that keep well in the fridge. December fills quickly, so the holiday pre-order guide is worth a look before you lock in a date.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the easiest dessert to bring to an office party?

A party package or a few dozen cupcakes is the easiest choice. Both arrive boxed and ready to set out, need no cutting or serving tools, and give people several flavors to choose from. Cake pops and pretzels can also be individually bagged, so leftovers go home neatly at the end of the day.

Can you decorate treats with our company colors?

Yes. Cupcakes, cake pops, dipped pretzels and party packages can be colored to match your company or a holiday theme. Share your colors, or a photo of what you have in mind, when you order. Themed designs cost more than simple color matching, and the final price is confirmed when your order is accepted.

Do you deliver to offices?

Cupcakes, cake pops and party packages are pickup only in Hope on Thursday, Friday or Saturday. Fruit displays are the one item that can be delivered, with a fee of $20 or 60 cents per mile round trip outside of Hope. Plan your pickup close to the party date and keep perishable treats cold.

We are grateful to bake for teams, offices and businesses across Hope and Southwest Arkansas during the busiest season of the year. Browse all of our treats, then send your request through the order form or a Facebook message with your pickup date, headcount and colors.

Written by the Strixly Cupcakes team in Hope, Arkansas. Owner and baker Rachael T. Turner has been baking since 2000 and launched Strixly Cupcakes in 2018.