And you, which San Juan cake do you prefer?

Candied fruit

This is the classic way to celebrate the San Juan festival. The base is made of bun, the shape is oval, and it's decorated with brightly colored candied fruit. The pine nuts and pearl sugar give it a crunchy touch that contrasts with the fluffiness of the bun.

Pork rinds

It's linked to two traditional festivals: Jueves Lardero (Fat Thursday) and San Juan (Saint John's Day). For this reason, it doesn't have the typical oval shape of the San Juan bun cake. It has a different shape, linked to the cold and the breaking of the fast, but at the beginning of summer, it has another chance, and it's alive.

With cream and pine nuts

Another classic of the festival. Its oval shape is a tribute to the Sun, to whom we dedicate a pagan festival like Saint John's Day.

A few years ago, it was defined as a transgressive cake because cocoa was not considered a traditional ingredient in San Juan cakes, but today, chocolate cake is fully integrated into traditional festival pastries. Chocolate can be added to the dough, the filling, or to the decoration on top.

Filled

Cakes filled with cream, custard, crème brulee, or truffle, among many other options, are a great attraction for those with a sweet tooth. This dessert is designed to be eaten the same day it's filled and has a short shelf life, but it pairs wonderfully with the pastry.

Creative

There are as many as there are pastry chefs' hats, like the round lemon, olive oil, and basil cake that won the award for Best Creative Cake of 2024. New creations, cakes with unexpected flavors, always have an audience, who try them with the joy of biting into a delicacy.

How to Make Your Own Cream Cake at Home

If you're interested in making a cake at home, here's the recipe from pastry chef Eric Ortuño of Atelier bakery in Barcelona. This recipe will make a magnificent cream and pine nut cake weighing about 800g.