As for the filling, I used a simple vanilla pastry cream. The recipe is from the America’s Test Kitchen cookbook, and I doubled that recipe as well. You could also add a variety of flavorings too. Lastly, the filling can be made a day or two ahead as long as it’s refrigerated. I topped the cake with fresh raspberries, with a thin layer of pastry cream to keep them in place on the cake. Finally, I lightly dusted the raspberries with powdered sugar; the sweetness of the sugar balanced out the tart bite of the berries. After assembling the cake, I suggest letting it chill in the refrigerator so that the layers can set with the cream. I tried a piece of cake about 2 hours later, and it held together well. And, I served it to my coworkers the next day and noticed that the consistency and flavor was even better. If you’re making this for a special event, I highly recommend making it the night before.