How to Make Cotton Candy: 15 Steps
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1. Gather your ingredients and materials: granulated sugar, food coloring, and flavoring extracts, a cotton candy machine, wooden or bamboo skewers, a large bowl, parchment paper, and heat-resistant gloves.
2. Set up your cotton candy machine on a clean, flat surface and make sure all its components are securely assembled according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
3. Preheat the cotton candy machine for about 5 minutes or as directed by the manufacturer.
4. While the machine is preheating, prepare your flavored sugar by mixing approximately 1 cup of granulated sugar with a few drops of food coloring and 1/2 teaspoon of your chosen flavoring extract.
5. Stir the flavored sugar mixture thoroughly until the color and flavoring are evenly distributed.
6. Once the cotton candy machine is preheated, turn it off and use a heat-resistant glove to carefully pour the flavored sugar into the center of the spinning head.
7. Turn the machine back on and wait for about one minute as it starts to heat up the sugar and produce flossy threads.
8. Hold a bamboo or wooden skewer horizontally at an angle within 1 inch of the spinning head once you see threads starting to form.
9. Gently twirl the skewer in one direction to collect the floss as it forms around your stick; don’t press too hard or move too fast, as this can cause clumps or breakage.
10. As you collect more floss on your skewer, move outwards in a spiral motion until you achieve your desired size of cotton candy puff.
11. Carefully remove your cotton candy from the skewer by sliding it off onto parchment paper to prevent it from sticking to other surfaces.
12. Repeat steps 8-11 until you have made enough cotton candy servings for everyone at your event or gathering.
13. Clean the cotton candy machine as directed by the manufacturer, ensuring all traces of sugar residue are removed to prevent build-up or damage.
14. Store any leftover sugar mixture in an airtight container for future use.
15. Enjoy your homemade cotton candy with friends and family!