I'm making a birthday cake for our school secretary this week. My plan is to do a yellow cake with chocolate filling. I've always done just b/c fillings before. I was looking for something else for this cake but I don't know what. I'm doing the sides with chocolate pencil cookies and blue hydrangeas on the top.

Any suggestions?

Fillings that don't require refrigeration:

Nutella straight from the jar or mixed with a little b/c.

Chocolate cream or chocolate bavarian cream (sleeved pastry filling):

http://www.thebakerskitchen.com/BAKEWARE_SHOPPE/Baking_Ingredients/Pastry_Filling/pastry_fillings.htm

http://www.countrykitchensa.com/catalog/mini.aspx?T=1&ShopId=38&CatId=532&SubCatId=798

Whipped chocolate ganache:

http://www.cakecentral.com/cake_recipe-2328-Whipped-Chocolate-Ganache.html

ShirleyW's faux bavarian cream:

http://www.cakecentral.com/cake_recipe-2396-Bavarian-Cream-Filling.html

Look forward to seeing pics!

HTH

Is pastry pride like cool whip?

Both are non-dairy, but Cool Whip requires refrigeration while Pastry Pride and Rich's Bettercreme are both shelf stable (for a limited amount of time).

I don't have access to Pastry Pride and there's precious little info available online.

However, Rich's Bettercreme is available in the midwest.

Everything you ever wanted to know about Rich's Bettercreme (and Pastry Pride):

http://forum.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopicp-1814171-.html

http://tinyurl.com/yv3dn8

HTH

JanH,
Pastry Pride is available online at costco.com
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=10254760&whse=BD_823&topnav=bdoff&browse=&lang=en-US