Three cheers for any dessert that can be made two days ahead, frozen, and then softened in the fridge while guests and cook alike enjoy dinner. And all the better if it is a truly memorable finale that sets off waves of flavor explosions: sweet meringue, cold ice cream, and puckery lemon curd.
Cooks' note:
Cake can be frozen up to 2 days. Once cake is firm, cover with plastic wrap; remove plastic wrap before softening cake in refrigerator.