Homemade Cotton Candy

While doing some preliminary research for a Garber Hardware/The Dish’s Dishes side project, TDD discovered a method for making cotton candy at home! We couldn’t believe it was possible, but discovered after reading a few complicated instructions, that anyone can whip up a batch of fresh, frothy, pink fluff! You don’t need a giant cotton candy machine, just an old whisk and wire cutters. Head into

Garber Hardware for the wire cutters for the best deal and friendly service.

The process will require both your hardware store-MacGyver mentality and your culinary skill. Cut off the rounded ends of the whisk with the wire cutter. We hear that you can get precut whisks for projects like this, but this is much more fun.

Ingredients:

5 cups sugar

1 1/3 cup light corn syrup

1 cup plus 2 tablespoon water

red food coloring

a candy thermometer

1. Spread the tines of the whisk so that they are evenly separated. Place two long wooden spoons underneath something heavy so that they securely stick out over the edge of your table.

2. In a 2-quart heavy saucepan, place sugar, light corn syrup, and water over medium-high heat. Cook the mixture until a candy thermometer reads 320 degrees F.

3. Add a few drops of red food coloring to the bottom of a heatproof glass bowl, remove the sugar mixture from the heat and carefully add it to the bowl.

4. Stir with your new whisk to incorporate the color. Working quickly, lift the whisk from the hot sugar and let it drain for 1 to 2 seconds until even streams fall from the tines. Move the whisk to the wooden spoon area high enough for the sugar to gently rest on the wooden spoons. Wave your whisk from left to right using broad strokes so that the thin layers of sugar collect into a pile on top of the spoons.

5. Collect the piles and either roll onto a rolled-up piece of paper or enjoy on the spot!