Cake-baking in Switzerland...

[Wuxiapian]

I want to make DP a birthday cake surprise.

I can't find an 8" cake-baking tin - have a loose-bottomed 9" tin. Tut. Will that, lined, do?

No luck finding vanilla essence - will a pod-scrape suffice?

Does anyone know if I can find evaporated milk, or of an equivalent?

Oh, and dark brown sugar - does this exist in GVA??

Is my Milk Chocolate cake doomed to failure?

Much thanks in desperation!!

Hope it went well. I've just stood in Migros MMM in Zugerland scratching my head looking for cinnamon. I've made the mistake of buying ginger so many time. Today, I had the startling revelation, that the sticks would have the same name as the ground stuff.