Cotton Candy Recipes

JACQUES' HOMEMADE COTTON CANDY

Steps:

• To make this recipe at home, you will need a pair of wire cutters and an old inexpensive whisk. Cut the round ends off an inexpensive whisk. Arrange the tines so they are evenly spaced. You will also need an open space to make the cotton candy. At home, slit open a garbage bag and cover the floor area. Wedge 2 long wooden spoons under something heavy so they extend off the edge of the counter.
• Place the sugar, corn syrup, and water in a 2-quart heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat. Insert a candy thermometer and cook the sugar mixture until it reaches 320 degrees F, what is known as the hard crack stage (the sugar becomes brittle when it comes in contact with a cooler surface). Remove from the heat and carefully pour into a medium-size microwaveable glass bowl. If you leave the sugar in the pan, the sugar will continue to cook and turn dark brown. A glass bowl will hold the temperature of the sugar. I put a towel under the bowl to keep the bowl from tipping over and to protect my hands from the heat of the glass. (The sugar will stay liquid enough to work with easily for about 10 minutes; after that it will start to thicken. If this happens before you are finished, just pop the bowl in the microwave for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the sugar is liquid enough to work with once again.) If you are going to color and/or flavor the sugar, add those drops now.
• Dip the tines into the hot sugar. Allow the sugar to drain off for 1 to 2 seconds until the draining sugar strands are relatively the same consistency. Then wave the whisk over the extended wooden spoons and allow the sugar strands to gently drift until they are resting on top of the spoons. Make sure you are about 12 to 18 inches above the spoons. Use broad long strokes and work quickly. Gather the cotton candy and roll onto paper that you've rolled into a long, thin cone, like cotton candy is served in at the carnival or serve as is. If you need to store the cotton candy for a few hours, place it in an airtight container. The delicate sugar will melt in a humid environment.

COTTON CANDY COCKTAIL

Steps:

• In a cocktail shaker, add the amaretto, limoncello, lemonade, and grenadine. Shake, and then pour into a rocks glass filled with crushed ice.
• Cooks Note: The idea is to have it look like a snow cone, with lots of ice sticking out of the glass (just put some pressure on the ice) and pour the drink on top of the ice.
• Garnish with a lemon twist.

COTTON CANDY RAINBOW "CAKE" RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Make the cotton candy: Let the machine heat for 10 minutes before using, then turn off.
• Add the yellow hard candy and superfine sugar to the machine, then turn back on. When you see the cotton candy web begin, hold a wooden skewer in the center at a 45° angle. Move the skewer around the bowl and spin while the candy collects on the end, then move the skewer into a horizontal position and continue rotating to collect the rest of the candy, moving from side to side.
• Slide the white cotton candy from the skewer into a deep 6-inch (15 cm) round container and press down gently. Cover the container and refrigerate while you make the remaining colors.
• Let the machine heat up again for 5 minutes, then turn off. Add 2-3 purple hard candies to the center, then turn on again and collect the cotton candy on a wooden skewer, turning off the machine and adding more candies until the cone is big and fluffy. Add the purple cotton candy to the container with the white cotton candy, cover again, and refrigerate.
• Repeat with the blue, green, yellow, orange, and red hard candies, letting the cotton candy machine reheat for 5 minutes between each batch.
• When ready to serve, uncover the container and invert the cotton candy cake onto a platter. Insert 4-6 wooden skewers into the cake as "candles," then top each skewer with a gummy candy "flame."
• Slice and serve.
• Enjoy!