How to Make Cotton Candy Without a Machine Easily Recipe
Learn how to make delicate, fluffy cotton candy at home easily without a machine. Using simple ingredients like sugar, corn syrup, and water, combined with basic kitchen tools, this method lets you create sweet, colorful cotton candy strands perfect for parties or a fun treat anytime.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- ½ cup corn syrup
- ½ cup water
- ½ tsp flavored extract (vanilla, strawberry, raspberry, etc.)
- 1–2 drops gel food coloring (optional)
Equipment
- Candy thermometer
- Baking sheet lined with parchment paper
- Whisk with ends cut off, fork, or 2 long skewers
- Optional: paper cones or lollipop sticks for serving
Instructions
- Gather ingredients and tools: Collect all ingredients—granulated sugar, corn syrup, water, flavored extract, and food coloring if desired—as well as your equipment including the candy thermometer, lined baking sheet, and whisk or skewers.
- Prepare the sugar syrup: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the sugar, corn syrup, and water. Stir gently until the sugar fully dissolves and the mixture is smooth, then allow it to come to a boil without stirring further.
- Heat to hard crack stage: Continue heating the syrup until it reaches 320°F (hard crack stage) on the candy thermometer. This temperature ensures the syrup will solidify into the fine threads of cotton candy.
- Add flavor and color: Remove the saucepan from heat. Quickly stir in the flavored extract and food coloring if using, mixing well to incorporate them evenly.
- Create cotton candy strands: Dip the modified whisk, fork, or skewers into the hot syrup, allowing excess to drip back into the pan. Then, flick or drizzle the syrup over the parchment-lined baking sheet in rapid, sweeping motions to form fine sugar strands.
- Form and serve: Gather the spun sugar strands into small mounds on the sheet or wrap them around paper cones or lollipop sticks. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container to maintain freshness.
Notes
- Be cautious when handling hot sugar syrup—it can cause severe burns.
- Use a candy thermometer for precise temperature to get perfect cotton candy texture.
- Modify the whisk or skewers by cutting off the ends to create spaces for the syrup to spin and form threads.
- Work quickly after syrup is ready, as it hardens fast.
- Store cotton candy in airtight containers away from moisture to keep it fluffy and dry.
Keywords: cotton candy recipe, homemade cotton candy, no machine cotton candy, easy cotton candy, stovetop cotton candy
