Help! I need some ideas for filling a cake other than just using plain buttercream. Has anyone tried just cutting up strawberries and putting them with the buttercream? Sorry for my ignorance but im not really good at the "baking and filling" part. I tend to use box cakes and just choc or vanilla buttercream! I know, i know!!!! But I really only do this for fun. Anyway, just wondering how that would work and how long it would keep out of the fridge for. I also wonder if anyone fills their cakes with pudding and if so how long can it keep for at room temp since it has milk in it? Any alternatives? Please help! I plan on making a beautiful pillow cake for my daughter's baptism this weekend but a pretty cake is no good if the taste doesnt excite my guests!!
Thanks!

Yes, it can be done. It might cause the icing to thin but should be o.k.
You could try another fruit such as banana - something that does not have so much water to it.

Another thing you can do is use fruit jams mix3ed into your b'cream. Buy a good well known brand of just fruit (no sugar added). Or use dried fruit chopped well.

Then there is always the sleeved fillings or canned pie fillings.

Hi, I have done that many times without my icing becoming to thin, you can also use pudding but remember the pudding has to be refridgerated. Now when i was in the Wilton 1 course our instructor told us to use the pudding that are not refrigerated, snack packs i believe.
You can crush up just about anything in your buttercream, you can add a different flavor to it anything is possible.. Chocolate ganauce is also very good, add jams to it to make if different, so many possibilities, just play around and see what tastes good to you!!!!