Okay-- my dad ordered a cake from me for Saturday. They (he & mom) loved it...I asked for $30 he paid me $40 
They took it to a friends' birthday picnic...everybody there loved it and a few mentioned ordering more. (Which surprised me because I didn't think it looked so hot. It was the 'Rockin Birthday' cake I have posted)
Now here's my dilemma...I used pastry filling. And I even put some on a cake scrap as I was making it, because I always like to know what my cakes taste like Well....my mom and dad hated it! They said they don't think pudding and cake should go together. It wasn't pudding...it was filling...I'm so confused?! Could I have made it wrong? Is there a lighter recipe somewhere? I thought it was good! 
I used the cream cheese filling for cakes that comes in a sleeve, it was thick and strong flavored (I like the flavor) but when put in the cake as filling it was just the right amount. I had some left over and used the whipped icing to thin it down some and that was good also! So, I think it's personal taste.
How did everyone else at the party like it? I always use pudding/pastry cream for my fillings and everyone absolutely loves it. You could use mousse, bavarian cream, fruit fillings.... A couple people in dh's family think my cakes are too sweet... they are really picky and set in their ways... I don't know if that's the case with your parents or not, but if they don't like the pastry cream, maybe try one of the alternatives for them. In my experience, the majority of people like the pastry cream/pudding.
Melissa 
I definitely think that the source of the complaint is part of the problem...
According to my parents, everybody at the party loved it. I asked Dad if anyone else said anything about the filling and he said no, but that he didn't think anyone would say anything even if they didn't like it.
Talking about people thinking it's too sweet, the main reason I did filling is because Dad always says the BC is too sweet! I just can't seem to win.
Do mousse fillings hold up well? I've not tried them before. THANKS!!
I never used a pudding filling before normally I use pastry filling that I buy from country kitchen, they have the best price except for the cream cheese taht cost too much I order else where. I never had a complaint about the raspberry, lemon, bavarina cream or cream cheese fiilling. Raspberry is the most popular it goes great with chocolate or white cakes.
I think maybe I overanalyze....I'm always afraid someone won't like a flavor so I tend to keep to the basics...I'd really like to try the raspberry! Sounds like cream cheese is popular too. But I didn't use pudding...the recipe was pastry filling...my parents just thought (actually argued) that is was pudding...
ahhh...picky people! I feel your pain! Try not to take it personal...
I think your cake turned out great! Major kudos to you.
I have been using pudding in my cakes recently and they have come out yummy, and no one realizes its pudding. I use the pie filling recipe on the box. It just uses less milk. I especially like the banana cream pudding.
I think the fact that others wanted to order from you says that the filling was good and it's a matter of personal choice as to whether one likes the filling or not. I have one customer who doesn't like anything but BC as a filling so you never know! 
pastry cream is just a fancy-schmancy word for pudding (as far as i'm concerned). i do find pudding too wet to use as a filling, and i generally prefer to use a simple mousse made with whipped cream and cooled, melted chocolate and butter. or just whipped cream and jam, or lemon or berry mousse, whipped cream blended with nutella, lemon curd etc. i do try to keep my flavours natural.
some people find pastry cream/custard a little too sweet or cloying. you can easily lighten it up by mixing it with whipped cream. don't take your parent's comments personally; it is simply a matter of taste.
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%