Ironically, commercially available cotton candy was invented by a dentist. By the end of the 19th century, spun sugar was prohibitively expensive and unavailable to the average consumer. In 1897, however, that began to change when dentist William Morrison and his business partner John Wharton invented the first candy-making machine. The candy was successfully introduced to consumers at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis, where it was labeled fairy floss. This name for cotton candy is still used in some parts of the world, especially Australia.

Cotton candy became a standard food offered at carnivals, ballparks, and festivals across the United States from the 1920s to the present. The machines used to turn the candy into fluff were first used by vendors selling the candy for only a quarter or less. In the 1970s, Tootsie Roll and other candy companies figured out a way to mass-produce cotton candy using a machine that not only spun it but also packaged it. Today, Tootsie Roll remains the world’s largest producer of cotton candy.

Americans enjoy having the candy as a rare treat during the summer months. However, many people do not realize that quality manufactured machines are available for consumer use. These machines can be purchased for as little as forty dollars and allow people to have cotton candy whenever they want in their own homes.

Even commercial grade machines have come down in price in recent years. These machines spin cones at over 3,000 rotations per minute and can generally produce a new cone every twenty to thirty seconds throughout the day. Surprisingly, although the quality has improved, the prices of these machines have come down in recent years. Commercial units are now available to purchase from two hundred dollars and up.

While special icing sugar is often used to make the fudge, regular table sugar can also be used. However, the results are generally not as good as one might expect with table sugar. The cones are usually not as fluffy and have a denser texture.

Cotton candy remains a popular treat for children and adults alike, just as it was after its first introduction in 1904. Despite warnings from health experts about increasing sugar consumption, to the People love the nostalgia of eating a hot and delicious candy fluff that has just been spun. The popularity of this simple confection has only increased.