What is the traditional Catalan midsummer pastry eaten for Saint John’s Eve called?

The traditional Catalan midsummer pastry eaten for Saint John’s Eve is called coca de Sant Joan.

It is a festive coca, a Catalan pastry or flat cake, commonly associated with the Nit de Sant Joan on June 23. Versions may be sweet and decorated with candied fruit, cream, or pine nuts, although recipes vary among bakers and regions.

The pastry is part of a broader Catalan celebration featuring bonfires, fireworks, gatherings, and midnight festivities. Saint John’s Eve is one of Catalonia’s major annual celebrations and is closely connected with midsummer customs.

Coca de Sant Joan is sometimes confused with other Spanish or European festive cakes. The word coca covers several Catalan baked foods, both sweet and savory, so not every coca is specifically a Saint John’s pastry.