I just made the crusting cream cheese frosting, yummmmmmmmm,
assumming the cr cheese content, refridg right?? I know whipped toppings do, IMBC and SMBC (which i havnt made yet)

also fillings,

I know bc, puddings dont

assuming anything with cream, or whipped toppings do, any specifics, I hate to screw up a finished cake because i didn't chill something, how long can they realistically sit out???

thanx Heather

Heather,
I made the crusting cream cheese icing for my wedding cake and it sat out for almost 12 hours and it was fine. I would just refrigerate any leftovers, as I am not sure exactly how long it can sit. Some people say it can for days- maybe someone else can help too.
bump.

I refrigerate most of my cakes right up until I deliver them....they are out when I am decorating..then I stick them in the fridge until I pack them up to deliver.

Cream cheese is considered a perishable item. According to the FDA, any perishable item should only be at room temp no more than 2 hours. This includes preparation time. I recommend that customers ordering a cream cheese frosting refrigerate their cake until serving time as a food safety precaution.

http://www.baking911.com/pantry/storage_food_safety.htm

I'm pretty sure pudding fillings need refrigeration. BC, jams, sleeve fillings don't. Whipped ganache can stay out 1 -2 days.

If I were making cream cheese icing for someone else, I would definately refridgerate it and tell them to do the same.

However, when I make cakes for us to consume I often don't refridgerate them (with cream cheese icing). My kids made cakes at a Wilton class for kids and because I had three different cakes I couldn't refridgerate all of them. They had cream cheese icing and sat out the whole time. We ate them for three days and then decided it probably wasn't good to eat anymore LOL. BUT, I didn't get around to throwing them out right away (they were so proud of them) and they didn't even begin to smell sour until about a week. Even on the third day we ate the cake the icing tasted perfectly fine, not the least bit sour or off.

But, if it's for someone else, play it safe and keep it cold!