How far in advance can you bake this cake? Can I bake on the previous day?

I thought the crackly top was best the day of, but if that's not a deal breaker for you then yes, you can make it a day in advance. To be honest it wasn't a deal breaker for me when I made this, and I didn't turn down leftovers throughout the week. Just store it in an airtight container, and don't top it with the cream until ready to serve.