My most favorite brownies.
http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Ultimate-Double-Chocolate-Brownies

These are also very delicious!
http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/desserts/noir-bars/

You could make a layered dessert in clear shot glasses or mason jars. Things like a berry/lady fingers/whipped cream, or chocolate cake/chocolatepudding/heathbarcrumbles/whipped cream, combo layered would look lovely, be easily prepared in advance, and taste delicious!

I suggest shortbread bars, like these: http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2010/09/peach-shortbread/

I have made them with pears, apples, and cranberry.

My rules for baking for events, especially business events:

1. Don't require anyone to use utensils or a plate
2. Don't make anything extremely crumbly
3. Use a recipe flexible enough for variety, in case of food allergies and preferences
4. Include chocolate

Are you looking for sweet or savory? Either way I would stick to one bite things.
If you're an experienced baker you could try different flavored french macaron for the sweet.
http://www.marthastewart.com/319525/parisian-macaroons
Elegant pretzel or parmesan knots would be good for a savory option.
http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/breads/easy-parmesan-knots/

I think it would help to know what kind of clients we're suggesting for. If it's all IT people, I'd do something that goes well with coffee (something sweeter almost reminiscent of donuts or monkey bread). If it's more business type clientele I'd go with more savory (cheesy breads, granola bars, etc.)

Mini cheesecakes maybe?
www.bakerella.com/super-easy-mini-cherry-cheesecakes/

This was my question - big thanks to TheKitchn for posting it today and for the suggestions thus far!

The clients are marketing execs (I work for a digital marketing agency), so while on the corporate side, I think a bit of creativity would be appreciated. I'm expecting to make at least 2 different recipes, therefore considering both savory & sweet options.

-Karen

I bake weekly for a department seminar, so I've been trying out a number of homemade, portable and easy to eat treats. So far these muffins have been the biggest hit!

http://missfats.wordpress.com/2013/02/27/buttery-lemon-cream-cheese-coffee-cake-two-ways/

For savory, how about little galettes filled with spinach, blue cheese and rosemary...
http://outoftheordinaryfood.com/2012/04/30/pear-spinach-rosemary-bleu-cheese-galettes/

Or little pastry cracker cups, which I filled with membrillo and manchego, but you could fill with tapenade and goat cheese, or blue cheese and pear...
http://outoftheordinaryfood.com/2011/12/11/cracker-cups/

For sweet, bar cookies are probably the easiest to make in large portions...these bakewell bars are nice, like small bakewell tarts. I used black currant jam and bittersweet chocolate chips between the shortbread and frangipane...
http://outoftheordinaryfood.com/2013/03/08/black-currant-and-bittersweet-chocolate-bakewell-bars-cardamom-ginger-chocolate-chip-cookies/

Or you could do a variation on millionaire's shortbread, like

Millionaire's shortbread with sea salt, rum and meyer lemons...
http://outoftheordinaryfood.com/2012/05/01/millionaire-shorbread-with-sea-salt-rum-and-meyer-lemons/

or hazelnut shortbread with raspberry and bittersweet chocolate bar cookies...
http://outoftheordinaryfood.com/2011/12/21/hazelnutraspberrydark-chocolate-bar-cookies/

Coconut shortbread with cherry and bittersweet chocolate...
http://outoftheordinaryfood.com/2012/12/26/coconut-cherry-chocolate-bar-cookies/

for savory, something like a lentils in phyllo cups -- avoids allergies and is handheld. for sweet, this recipe for almond pignoli cookies: http://www.theppk.com/2009/09/pignoli-almond-cookies/

both recipes are easy but have sophisticated flavors. another cookie would be these tahini lime cookies, which are INSANE and beautiful: http://anxiouspastry.blogspot.com/2010/02/tahini-lime-cookies.html

These cococnut macaroons dipped in white chocolate are my most requested cookie:

http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/homemade-coconut-macaroons

Also, maybe not as elegant but equally as loved are caramel chocolate pretzels:

http://cheatdaycafe.blogspot.ca/2009/06/chocolate-covered-caramel-pretzel-rods.html
(I have also used that caramel recipe to make homemade "turtles" with either almonds or pecans and they were a huge hit)

I agree that bars/batch recipes go further for your effort but I think individual portions like cookies, tarts, buns, pretzels, etc. are prettier and more well-received when it's not an informal house party.

I too agree that bars and sweets are the way to go and single bite-sized portions are elegant and easy to eat. I love Peppermint Patty Brownies (bonus: helps alleviate garlic breath) and my S'Mores Brownies. Both are super easy using Gluten Free Brownie Mix:

www.freshnessgf.com/peppermint-patty-brownies/
www.freshnessgf.com/smores-brownies-2/

French macarons! Empanadas for sweet or savory.

These may not be the most elegant to look at, but they're moist and light and very delicious. They're also dead easy to make and one batch yields a very large amount. I made this recipe the first time at Christmas for a cookie platter, but they're not really holiday-ish and I've made them again....and some of them ended up as breakfast.

http://www.gilttaste.com/stories/3816-momofuku-milk-bar-holiday-cookie-recipes-cinnamon-sugar-squares

what about cupcakes with clients logos in the frosting? or even a cake with "examples" of your companies work on it? I've never made them myself but what about scones? would think you could whip up a large batch of the dough/batter and divide it to do sweet and savory mix-ins.

These are sweet and salty and disappear in an instant: http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Pretzel-Caramel-Candies

I don't use nuts, I just put another pretzel on top of the Rolo to make a sandwich.

These chocolate peppermint cookies are a dead ringer for everyone's favorite thin mints if you dip them in chocolate (I just drizzled to make them a little lighter). You also can't go wrong with a classic chocolate chip cookie, and this recipe is my all-time favorite. For savory ideas, I love some simple herb roasted almonds or parmesan cheddar crackers. Both are very easy to make and easy to transport.

I love to bake for my office but often find transportability a challenge. People enjoy things that taste great, but are also nice to look at. I was thinking of a nice (and very easy) recipe of palmiers -- Joy the Baker had them a few years ago:
http://joythebaker.com/2009/01/how-to-make-palmiers/

They look beautiful and could really be made into whatever size you wanted.

I wouldn't do cupcakes. They're messy and no one looks dignified while eating them. Among friends and family this is no problem, but a professional environment is not a good place for them.

Chocolate dipped coconut macaroons. Easy & delicious.

Mini bakewell tarts.
I jut made this for a seminar I had to run last week. Make pie or pastry dough, cut out small circles with a cookie cutter and press into a mini-muffin pan. spread a dab of jam in each shell then fill with a ground almond and egg white mixture. They come out as bite-size little tarts that are incredibly elegant--they come out golden and lacy on top- and very tasty! They disappeared quickly!

Everyone loves Nanaimo bars!

I was thinking that a ramped up cinnamon roll for the sweet side. Maybe a more sophisticated cinnamon roll using cardamom, vanilla bean and coconut milk.

And matching cinnamon type savory roll with something like goat cheese, rosemary and salmon between the rolls or moz, tomatoes and fresh basil or smokey gouda alone.

(I'm assuming people are getting plates and that there will be seating)

I hope you post what you decide because everything suggested here sounds delish!

These are wonderful, light and fluffy http://foodfromourlife.wordpress.com/2013/02/01/who-doesnt-love-a-scone/ or these if you want something a bit more breakfasty http://foodfromourlife.wordpress.com/2012/12/30/a-christmas-spin-on-the-chelsea-bun/