Self-saucing pudding - how best to make in advance?

[OMGitsnotgood]

We’re having friends over tomorrow and I’m making both lemon and chocolate self-saucing puddings. I want to put them in to cook as we sit down for the main course, but prepare ahead so I’m not making then once the guests have arrived. I’ve only ever made them ‘fresh’ for family.
i don’t want to bake ahead and reheat (which I have done successfully for many other puddings) as I think this might reduce the amount of sauce.
I could make the batter in advance and just finish off before baking. I cook a lot but have no idea how far ahead I can make the cake mix without it affecting the texture. Ideally this would be at least one, maybe two hours before baking.
Has anyone successfully made this kind of pudding in advance? If so what is the best way to do this please?
Thanks

I’ve found that a slow cooker works pretty well for self saucing puddings, this is the recipe that I’ve used- they also have a lemon version.

https://justslowcooker-recipes.com/slow-cooker-chocolate-self-saucing-pudding/

PPs slow cooker suggestion is a good one.

I wouldn't make the batter in advance, I think it will affect how it rises. The raising agent starts reacting as soon as the you mix it with the liquid.

When I do this kind of pudding for guests, I tend to get all the dry ingredients (including butter if relevant) ready in the stand mixer, and have the liquid ingredients and egg ready to go in little bowls like Delia Smith. Prepare the tin and preheat the oven.

Then it only takes a couple of minutes to beat it together when you're ready, although I tend to do this after the main course because I prefer to have a decent break between courses.

I hadn’t thought of the slow cooker, thanks for that link @HeathenPlayingHouse
I didn’t want to make while guests were here at all @pastaandpesto, even with pre-prepared ingredients. One family needs to leave sharpish so I don’t want to delay dessert plus i am making two, but if I make one in the slow cooker I guess I could quickly make. the other. At least the slow cooker one will be ready if the ‘leaving family’ need to go before the other is ready

Thank you both.