Jacques' Homemade Cotton Candy
Serves: 2
Catharine Rutherford
1 January 1970
Based on User reviews:
48
Spice
47
Sweetness
46
Sourness
43
mins
Prep time (avg)
5.2
Difficulty
Ingredients:
Directions:
1
To make this recipe at home, you will need a pair of wire cutters and an old inexpensive whisk
2
Cut the round ends off an inexpensive whisk
3
Arrange the tines so they are evenly spaced
4
You will also need an open space to make the cotton candy
5
At home, slit open a garbage bag and cover the floor area
6
Wedge 2 long wooden spoons under something heavy so they extend off the edge of the counter
7
Place the sugar, corn syrup, and water in a 2-quart heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat
8
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)
9
Remove from the heat and carefully pour into a medium-size microwaveable glass bowl
10
If you leave the sugar in the pan, the sugar will continue to cook and turn dark brown
11
A glass bowl will hold the temperature of the sugar
12
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
13
(The sugar will stay liquid enough to work with easily for about 10 minutes; after that it will start to thicken
14
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
15
) If you are going to color and/or flavor the sugar, add those drops now
16
Dip the tines into the hot sugar
17
Allow the sugar to drain off for 1 to 2 seconds until the draining sugar strands are relatively the same consistency
18
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
19
Make sure you are about 12 to 18 inches above the spoons
20
Use broad long strokes and work quickly
21
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
22
If you need to store the cotton candy for a few hours, place it in an airtight container
23
The delicate sugar will melt in a humid environment