Preparing cotton candy in large quantities without the special machine is practically impossible. However, it's fun and pretty easy to make some cotton candy or puff sugar creations with your own hands if you have the patience, the knowledge, and some common cooking skills. Here's how to make your own cotton candy.
Ingrediants
Handmade Cotton Candy
- 800 grams of sugar.
- 40 ml of corn syrup.
- 40 ml of water.
- 1, 5 gr of salt.
- 5 ml of raspberry extract.
- 2 drops of pink food coloring.
Hand Pulled Sugar
- 850 grams of sugar.
- 500 ml of water
- 15 ml of vinegar.
- 125 ml of corn syrup.
- 1 drop of food coloring.
- Cornstarch.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Handmade Cotton Candy
Step 1. Combine the sugar, corn syrup, and salt in a large, heavy saucepan over medium heat
Stir the ingredients until the sugar has dissolved completely. Use a pastry brush to clean the edges of the pan and prevent the sugar from crystallizing.
Step 2. Attach a cooking thermometer and heat the mixture to a temperature of 160 ° C
Then, pour the hot liquid into a low, heat-resistant container. Add the raspberry extract and food coloring and mix well. Although this recipe includes raspberry extract and pink dye, you can use whatever you prefer.
Step 3. Spread some parchment paper on your work surface
You can also place some on the floor to catch any sugar drops that might fall.
Step 4. Roll up the sugar
Dip a whisk with the upper end cut off in the sugar syrup, just for a second. Hold it about 12 inches above the parchment paper and rock it back and forth so that thin strands of sugar begin to fall onto the paper. Continue like this for a couple of times until a "nest" of sugar strands forms. Know that it will not look like what comes out of the candy floss machine you are used to.
Step 5. Wrap cotton candy around the lollipop sticks
You should do this right away or the sugar will become brittle.
Step 6. Serve
This is a sweet that should be eaten immediately, but you can also seal it in airtight containers to prevent moisture from reaching the cotton candy.
Method 2 of 2: Hand Pulled Sugar
Step 1. Combine the ingredients in a medium-sized saucepan
Put the sugar, water, vinegar, corn syrup and food coloring in the pot. Mix them very gently so that no sugar crystals form on the edges.
Step 2. Bring the mixture to a boil
Use a cooking thermometer to check when it reaches 130 ° C. Then remove the pot from the heat and let it cool down to 100 ° C.
Step 3. Divide the cake into 4 one-liter containers
Step 4. Remove the mixture from the containers when it reaches room temperature
Do this by gently squeezing the container as you turn it.
Step 5. Dust a baking sheet with a generous amount of cornstarch
The pan should have high sides.
Step 6. Roll the cake in the cornstarch
Scrub any excess you can see.
Step 7. Prepare the cake to be pulled
Make a hole in the center of the cake, use your thumb and forefinger to dig it. Then press to widen the hole while the cake remains the same thickness all around. When you have formed a long enough circular string, twist it to form an 8 and join the two halves.
Step 8. Roll the cake
Hold it with both hands. Keep one hand forward while the other gently pulls the candy. Rotate your hands around the cake and keep pulling until you get long strips. Keep pulling at least 10-14 times.
Step 9. Serve
Enjoy this great pulled candy while still in good shape.
Advice
- Prepare your work area before you start cooking. If the compounds become too cold it will be impossible to create filaments.
- Cover the work area with wax paper, parchment paper or newspaper for easier cleaning later.
- Keep cold water handy (or work near the sink) in case you get burned.
- Be aware that this is NOT classic carnival cotton candy. It is often chewy and delicious.
- Follow all safety considerations in the "warnings" section.
- A few drops of essential oil mixed at the last moment add flavor to your creation.
Warnings
- Boiling sugar can cause severe burns. Act with caution. The temperatures are similar to those of oil for frying but unlike oil, boiling sugar cannot be quickly removed from the skin and continues to burn until it cools. This means you can get third-degree burns if you're not careful. These burns require hospitalization and are very painful.
- Candies require simple but precise work. Even a few degrees above or below the recommended temperature affects the formation of the filaments.
- Do not "spin the sugar" by hand when there are children or pets around.
- Remember to wear an apron, it's sticky work.
- Be especially careful when "spinning sugar" because it can be a dangerous activity. Losing sight of the pot on the fire can cause a fire.
