I plan on making a number of these to give out for the holidays. How long in advance can I make them before I give them out?

Dorie beat me to it. Was just about to say that if you've got room in your freezer, you could make those cakes today and not give them out until during the December holidays.

Rich cakes like this one are good candidates for freezing. Cool the cake completely, wrap well, freeze and defrost, still wrapped, at room temperature. If you want to bake and not freeze, I think you'll be very safe baking 2 days ahead.