Cotton candy (also known as fairy floss in Australia, candy floss in South Africa, the UK and New Zealand) is a form of spun sugar. According to the New York Times, the confection “is 100 percent sugar, with dashes of flavoring and food coloring”.
There are several claims for the origin of cotton candy, with some sources tracing it to a form of spun sugar found in Europe in the 19th century. At that time, spun sugar was an expensive, labor-intensive endeavor and was not generally available to the average person. Others suggest versions of spun sugar originated in Italy as early as the 15th century.
Here are 20 dessert recipes with cotton candy, or cotton candy flavoring:
Cotton Candy Cake Pops
Ingredients: white cake mix, eggs, buttermilk, Betty Crocker Cotton Candy frosting, Duncan Hines Frosting Creations – cotton candy flavor, white candy melts. Get the full recipe at thetiptoefairy.com
It is so much easier to serve cake pops to preschoolers at a class party than cupcakes, and they tend to actually eat it since it’s such a small piece. These are also perfect for gift giving or bake sales. At the school Valentine’s Day parties, I had all my kids give cake pops to their teachers. I’m telling ya, I’ve become addicted to making cake pops.
Cotton Candy Cream Soda
Ingredients: soda (grape, blueberry, orange, or cherry), club soda, heavy cream, ice cream (optional), cotton candy in the colors of the sodas. Get the full recipe at awwsam.com
Cotton candy and cream soda together totally seem like a perfect match. This is not the most revolutionary drink in the world, but it’s definitely something simple and fun for a kid’s drink or an ice cream social party.
Cotton Candy Cupcakes
Ingredients: all purpose flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, egg whites, cotton candy extract or flavor, sour cream, milk, salted butter, icing color, butter, shortening, powdered sugar, cotton candy extract, water or cream, cotton candy or cotton candy flavored suckers. Get the full recipe at lifeloveandsugar.com
These cupcakes get their cotton candy flavor from extract. You could also use cotton candy flavoring. The flavoring is more for candy and has more of a syrup-y consistency, but it’ll do the job. I also tend to find that in stores more than the extract.
Cotton Candy Cupcakes
Ingredients: all-purpose flour, cake flour, baking powder, salt, unsalted butter, granulated sugar, egg, egg whites, vanilla extract, milk, cotton candy, Cotton Candy Buttercream, powdered sugar, cream or half and half, cotton candy flavor. Get the full recipe at cookingclassy.com
These cupcakes have been on my to do list for probably the last three years. Who knows what took me so long to make them! My kids thought they were the coolest thing ever and they were practically mesmerized. So, in other words if your child has a birthday party coming up, these are the cupcakes to make! But really, if you have your own birthday party coming up, these are the cupcakes to have someone make you :). Let’s be honest we all love cotton candy. Some things never change.
Cotton Candy Dip
Ingredients: cream cheese, heavy whipping cream, cotton candy, powdered sugar, gel food coloring. Get the full recipe at diprecipecreations.com
This would be a fun dip for a child’s birthday party or a baby shower. You can use food coloring to make it the desired color if you can’t find cotton candy in your preferred color. Cotton candy dip is great served with cookies or graham crackers.
Cotton Candy Frozen Yogurt
Ingredients: Greek yogurt (plain or vanilla), agave (or maple syrup or honey), almond milk (or milk of choice), cotton candy flavoring oil, food coloring. Get the full recipe at houseofyumm.com
This Cotton Candy Frozen Yogurt not only looks fun, it tastes fun! Plus the kids will flip for it! Best part, there’s no refined sugar in it. And don’t tell them, but it’s really secretly healthy for them.
Cotton Candy Ice Cream
Ingredients: granulated sugar, whole milk, heavy whipping cream, cotton candy syrup, vanilla extract, food coloring (optional). Get the full recipe at homemadehooplah.com
Celebrate the season with the treat that embodies summer fun (cotton candy) in the form of chilly ice cream. Cool off while enjoying a nostalgic sugar high!
Cotton Candy Layer Cake
Ingredients: whole milk. egg whites, cotton candy extract, cake flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, Sprinkles, butter, food coloring, cotton candy floss sugar, powdered sugar, heavy whipping cream, cotton candy or rock candy (for garnish). Get the full recipe at confessionsofacookbookqueen.com
Cotton candy layer cake will make everyone smile. It’s full of sweet flavor and pretty pink color!
Cotton Candy Martini
Ingredients: cotton candy, grape juice, vanilla vodka (or your favorite vodka flavor). Get the full recipe at thecookierookie.com
These are SO FUN for Halloween or any time! You can make these kid friendly by just using grape juice. Fun and tasty!
Cotton Candy Meringues
Ingredients: egg whites, cream of tartar, granulated white sugar, Duncan Hines Cotton Candy Flavoring, powdered sugar. Get the full recipe at pinkpiccadillypastries.blogspot.com
I love the texture of the meringue mixture and the baked meringues were very nice & crisp. The cotton candy flavoring gives the meringues such a pretty color!
Cotton Candy Milkshake
Ingredients: coconut milk, powdered sugar, cotton candy flavoring, vanilla extract, food coloring, cotton candy (for garnish). Get the full recipe at nerdymamma.com
This is the Overloaded Dairy-Free Cotton Candy Milkshake that we DON’T need an excuse to make.
Cotton Candy Mini Donuts
Ingredients: Betty Crocker Cotton Candy Sugar Cookie Mix, baking soda, salt, eggs, vegetable oil, Danimals Cotton Candy Greek Yogurt, milk, vanilla, Duncan Hines Cotton Candy Flavor Mix, powdered sugar, Sprinkles. Get the full recipe at abajillianrecipes.com
They’re so unbelievably light and fluffy that you could just pop an entire one in your mouth! And the glaze on these donuts is divine! Just like the donuts, the glaze has that wonderful cotton candy flavor, thanks to the Cotton Candy Flavor Mix. I love the pretty teal blue that the flavor mix dyed the glaze! Almost too pretty to eat!
Cotton Candy Oreo Truffles
Ingredients: Cotton Candy Oreo cookies, cream cheese, blue Wilton candy melts (or any brand, vanilla flavor), pink Wilton candy melts (or any brand, vanilla flavor). Get the full recipe at https://wishesndishes.com/cotton-candy-oreo-truffles/
Cotton Candy Oreo Truffles have that childhood favorite cotton candy flavor and are the perfect dessert for summer, baby showers, Valentine’s Day, or Mother’s Day.
Cotton Candy Pinwheel Cookies
Ingredients: butter, granulated sugar, egg, vanilla extract, milk, all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, cotton candy flavor Duncan Hines Frosting Creations Flavor Mix, pink gel paste food coloring, assorted nonpareils, sprinkles, or colored sugar. Get the full recipe at myfriendsbakery.ca
A delicious, soft cookie that isn’t overly sweet.
Cotton Candy Popcorn
Ingredients: marshmallow or vanilla candy melts, popcorn, sprinkles, cotton candy, blue candy melts, pink candy melts. Get the full recipe at bitzngiggles.com
Candy-coated popcorn recipe with sprinkles and real cotton candy pieces!
Cotton Candy Puppy Chow
Ingredients: pink (vanilla flavored) candy wafers, light blue (vanilla flavored) candy wafers, rice chex cereal, vegetable oil, cotton candy flavored oil, powdered sugar. Get the full recipe at sweetasacookie.com
This recipe is the perfect amount of sweet paired with the perfect amount of crunch. Who wouldn’t love this recipe? It’s like a grown up version of a childhood favorite.
Cotton Candy S’mores
Ingredients: marshmallows or marshmallow fluff, cotton candy, graham crackers, sprinkles. Get the full recipe at sequinsinthesouth.com
So fun and so easy!! Perfect for all occasions in my case I served them before breakfast & they thought I was super cool!! Perfect for baby showers, gender reveal, birthdays and all in-between party’s!!
Cotton Candy Swirl Apples
Ingredients: granny smith apples, granulated sugar, light corn syrup, cotton-candy candy flavour oil, bright white soft gel food colour, cotton candy, glitter/sprinkles of choice. Get the full recipe at sweetapolita.com
A Pastel Swirl Cotton Candy Apple is an almost-traditional candy apple in the sense that it’s a fresh apple on a stick, dipped and coated in a sugar mixture that’s brought to the hard-crack stage. The difference is that, in this case, we play with flavour by adding a cotton candy flavoured oil, and colour by whitening the coating and then adding a few drops of other colours to create a swirl effect. Top that with a generous array of actual cotton candy and sprinkles, and whimsy prevails.
Cotton Candy Whoopie Pies
Ingredients: Confetti cake mix, butter, egg, Frosting Creations Frosting Starter, Cotton Candy Flavor Mix. Get the full recipe at insidebrucrewlife.com
Create a fun cookie that everyone will enjoy. These Cotton Candy Whoopie Pies start with a cake mix and a Duncan Hines frosting and flavor packet for a cookie sandwich that is great for lunch boxes or after school snacks.
Loaded Cotton Candy Fudge
Ingredients: sugar, butter, heavy cream, white chocolate chips, marshmallow fluff, cotton candy extract, cotton candy golden oreos or vanilla golden oreos, pink and white sprinkles, cotton candy. Get the full recipe at awwsam.com
This fudge is filled with cotton candy oreos AND sprinkles too. Talk about a sugar rush!! I’ve always been a huge fan of cotton candy and it’s pretty much a staple whenever we go to a fair or a carnival, so I’m right there with you in loving a good old cotton candy project. And you can’t go wrong with fudge, right? Especially when the colors are so magical! This recipe is a quick one to make, and you’ll be munching on cotton candy fudge in no time!
Frequently Asked Questions about cotton candy:
- Is cotton candy a dessert?
Yes, cotton candy is typically considered a dessert. It’s a sugary treat that’s often served at fairs, carnivals, and other events. - What goes with cotton candy?
Cotton candy pairs well with other sweet treats, such as popcorn, caramel apples, and candy bars. It can also be served with savory snacks, like pretzels, to balance out the sweetness. - What to do with cotton candy?
There are a few things you can do with cotton candy, such as eat it as is, share it with friends, or use it as a decorative element for parties and events. Some people even like to use cotton candy as a topping for ice cream or cupcakes. - What are some yhings to make with cotton candy?
Some fun things you can make with cotton candy include cotton candy cocktails, cotton candy ice cream sandwiches, and cotton candy fudge. You can also use cotton candy as a decorative element for cupcakes, cakes, and other desserts. - How to make cotton candy flavoring?
To make cotton candy flavoring, you can use cotton candy extract, which is typically made by combining sugar, corn syrup, and artificial flavoring. You can also use cotton candy syrup or cotton candy flavoring oils, which can be found at some specialty baking stores or online. - What to do with leftover cotton candy?
If you have leftover cotton candy, you can store it in an airtight container or bag to keep it fresh. You can also use it as a decorative element for parties or events, or try incorporating it into other desserts or treats, like cotton candy ice cream or cotton candy popcorn.
