Jacques' Homemade Cotton Candy

Recipe courtesy of Jacques Torres

Show: Passion for Dessert with Jacques Torres

Episode: Elevated Kid Food (CANDY)

Jacques' Homemade Cotton Candy

Name: Jacques' Homemade Cotton Candy
Prep time: P0Y0M0DT0H15M0.000S
Cook time: P0Y0M0DT0H10M0.000S
Total time: P0Y0M0DT0H25M0.000S
Yield: 10 servings
Cuisine: american
Ingredients: 5 cups granulated sugar; Scant 1 1/3 cups light corn syrup; 1 cup plus 2 T. water; Flavored oil; Food color paste; Vegetable baking spray

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Level: Intermediate
Total: 25 min

Prep: 15 min
Cook: 10 min

Yield: 10 servings

Remember you are working with hot sugar so be sure to have a bowl of cold water ready in case you get any of it on your skin. It is best to make sugar on a dry day, as the humidity will melt the sugar.

Level: Intermediate
Total: 25 min

Prep: 15 min
Cook: 10 min

Yield: 10 servings

Ingredients

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5 cups granulated sugar

Scant 1 1/3 cups light corn syrup

1 cup plus 2 T. water

Flavored oil

Food color paste

Vegetable baking spray

Directions

To make this recipe at home, you will need a pair of wire cutters and an old inexpensive whisk. Cut the round ends off an inexpensive whisk. Arrange the tines so they are evenly spaced. You will also need an open space to make the cotton candy. At home, slit open a garbage bag and cover the floor area. Wedge 2 long wooden spoons under something heavy so they extend off the edge of the counter.
Place the sugar, corn syrup, and water in a 2-quart heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat. 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). Remove from the heat and carefully pour into a medium-size microwaveable glass bowl. If you leave the sugar in the pan, the sugar will continue to cook and turn dark brown. A glass bowl will hold the temperature of the sugar. 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. (The sugar will stay liquid enough to work with easily for about 10 minutes; after that it will start to thicken. 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.) If you are going to color and/or flavor the sugar, add those drops now.
Dip the tines into the hot sugar. Allow the sugar to drain off for 1 to 2 seconds until the draining sugar strands are relatively the same consistency. 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. Make sure you are about 12 to 18 inches above the spoons. Use broad long strokes and work quickly. 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. If you need to store the cotton candy for a few hours, place it in an airtight container. The delicate sugar will melt in a humid environment.