Best Cotton Candy Makers for Kids

Why bother with a simple, plain cotton candy machine when there are the best of all worlds?

Updated August 14, 2022

Cotton candy is one of the most popular fair treats and we love the scene when a child watches a cotton candy machine in action for the first time. It has a light, fluffy texture and sweet taste that kids love! The problem is that cotton candy machines are expensive, and many parents don't want to spend the money on something their little ones will only use once or twice a year. Fear not, there are plenty of great alternatives out there!

Are you looking for a new cotton candy maker for a kid?

With a cotton candy machine you can make delicious homemade cotton candy with just two ingredients – sugar and water – in less than 10 minutes without any special equipment or skills.

Cotton candy is a fun treat that most people associate with fairs and carnivals, but it can also be made at home. If you're looking to buy your little one their very own, we've done the research so you don't have to. Here are our top picks of the best cotton candy makers for kids right now. All of these machines will produce fluffy, delicious treats in minutes!

#1 Best Overall - Cotton Candy Express CC1000-S Cotton Candy Machine

The Cotton Candy Express CC1000-S has been popular among children and adults alike. Kids will love making their own cotton candy and parents can enjoy watching the excitement on their faces from afar! This pink cotton candy machine includes 5 flavors in the box to make your favorite fair treats in minutes at home. This machine is really easy to use and includes a scoop for you to measure floss sugar accurately.

Beyond serving up floss sugar spun in classic pink color, it also supports hard candies as the main ingredient, which gives the freedom to make different flavors, even sugar-free ones. So, if floss doesn't float your boat then go ahead and put together crushed pieces of hard candy instead.

It’s so nice that you don't need any special skills or expensive equipment to make your own home-made treats like this at the push of a button. It's not too loud, so you can use in a classroom or at home while watching TV without any problem. 

Top-Rated

This cotton candy machine produces a tasty treat that can be made with just 1 to 2 tablespoons of sugar for each stick! With 11 ounces of floss sugar in one jar you will have enough syrup for about 22 servings so get your hands on this great deal today if you dare not resist temptation!

As long as the machine doesn't get too hot, the machine is very durable and will last a long time. It’s also easy to assemble and clean which is perfect if you need to wash some dishes before dinner!

Overall, this is the best cotton candy machine for children because it comes as a four-in-one package, including scoop, cones and sugar pack along with the machine. This means that you will never have to worry about purchasing more or forgetting these items when packing up your kitchen after a children's party.

#2 Best Professional - Olde Midway Commercial Quality Cotton Candy Machine Cart

Even if it's not ideal for the use of children, this is a great cotton candy maker for people who want to serve quality-made sugar cone at their parties and warm-up the kids. It is enjoyed by both the young and young at heart!

The Olde Midway Commercial Quality Cotton Candy Machine Cart and Electric Candy Floss Maker is a fast, large cotton candy machine. It can make one cone of floss every 30 seconds, which makes it perfect for any event or occasion where you want to add sugar sweetness!

The stainless steel kettle heats up quickly with its 950 watt heating element - enough to melt even an ice cube at lower speeds without having hot spots. This ensures that all ingredients will be mixed evenly so there isn't a patch of hard sugar in the middle.

Most Productive

Though it's a commercial quality machine, it is also extremely easy to use. Turn on the power switch and wait for 2-4 minutes before adding in your cotton candy mixture. Once ready start twirling until fluffy cones are created effortlessly within 60 second intervals from this commercial quality cart. Then you can quickly start turning the crank arm and enjoy watching as you turn out one delicious sugar cone after another! It's hard not to get excited when you have such an amazing looking machine sitting right in front of you.

The Olde Electric Floss Maker also includes some handy accessories with purchase: a three bin storage drawer, an ingredient scoop, plus two extra motor drive belts. You'll always have everything you need on-hand when it's time to make fresh cotton candy. The power switch, heat controller and volt meter are also conveniently located on the front panel. The unit is UL certified for safety with an automatic shutdown feature for added peace of mind.

This cart cotton candy maker has everything you need to churn out fluffy sugar cones in no time!

#3 Best Value - Nostalgia PCM306PK Vintage Hard and Sugar Free Countertop Cotton Candy Maker

The Nostalgia Vintange Cotton Candy Maker has a cute retro design that reminds of old time cotton candy vendors from the early 20th century. It comes equipped with a beautiful white pot and decorative wheels full of nostalgia as well as an attractive hot pink color scheme from head to toe so you'll never forget where all that tempting sweetness came from!!

We've done a lot of research and it's one of the few models that works with hard candy to such an affordable price, which can be difficult to find for kids. It works with either flossing sugar or hard candies to give you a delicious treat that is either made of the traditional recipe for sugary goodness, or one that has been changed up by using your favorite treats and replacing some of the sugar in order to make it healthier!

This model would make an excellent gift because of the old-fashioned feel for an authentic experience and its versatility. Another thing worth considering is how easy it will be to clean up the cotton cany maker, which is a huge plus for moms.

Affordable

It has a clear rim guard that lets you watch your cotton candy being made, which is cool, and it also disassembles for easy cleaning. I also like that it has a suction cup feet on the bottom so you don't have to worry about stalibity like with some other models.

Once warmed, this device can produce 1 piece of fluffy cotton candy in less than 3 minutes! It has an electric motor that starts spinning its metal wire quickly so all your favorite ingredients (sugar) get mixed together with heated air inside the machine's insulated barrel.

A sugar free lover's dream, this is the perfect substitute for your regular cotton candy maker! You can easily put in some hard candies or crystals to make it just like traditional cotton candy but without all of those extra sugars that will be harmful if consumed regularly. Overall, I'm really impressed by the quality and would recommend this product to anyone looking for an affordable cotton candy maker.

#4 Best Home Package - Party Carnus CN1000-S Cotton Candy Maker

A touch of sugar and a pinch of nostalgia is what the Carnus CN2000-S Cotton Candy Maker brings to your hands. Whether it's for kids or adults, this machine has been designed with safety in mind while still maintaining its ease-of use factor. It can be heated up 10 minutes before turning off until you add sugar. We suggest only adding one scoop at a time due to how fast they melt into sugary goodness; however, that would take too long when we're talking about cotton candy here (which goes by way faster than any other type). To get those perfect threads made out from pure sugar covered strawberry syrup so sweet there are no words left on earth good enough sung in praise, it takes only about 1.5 minutes to reach the perfect consistency.

Also Great

The Carnus Family Package is like a gift from heaven for those looking for an easy way to provide cotton candy without all of the hassle that comes with other methods (i.e., complicated machinery). This machine is so easy to use that it can be operated by an adult or a child. The colorful, sleek design makes it look like the kind of toy you always wanted but never got; and if there's anything this cotton candy maker has going for itself besides its consistency in quality, it's how attractive it looks.

It's well engineered for hours of safe family entertainment. The maker itself has its own easy push start button, so there are no complicated directions involved; it also comes complete with five 6 ounce resealable pouches (floss sugars) that create about 12 small or medium sized sticks each - just add water and enjoy making sweet memories together!

#5 Best Beginner - Benelet Premium Cotton Candy Machine

This cotton candy maker is easy and quick enough that kids can operate it by themselves, which makes it perfect for any family event where you need a simple treat! The machine is made of high-quality food grade materials that are safe for kids to use. Simply turn on the machine and wait a few minutes to warm up, then pour in a scoop of sugar to begin making cotton candy! You can also sprinkle it with hard candies or other tasty treats like sprinkles.

The Benelet Cotton Candy Maker comes with all of the basic features you would expect, such as a large 500-watt heating tube that ensures fast production. The machine is made from safe materials for children including BPA free plastic parts and non-waterproof electrical components as well as four suction cup feet for stability and less vibration. The stand-out feature of the Benelet is its easy to use design with simple operation that takes just minutes!

Small Pick

It is a typical machine that you can use to create cotton candy. However, it needs to be cleaned every time and remove any rest sugar in the middle bottom part of the machine to ensure that it will not make a mess and cause any safety issues even flames. Otherwise the sugar may stick to the inside of the machine after you make cotton candy which means that this needs a little more work even if you try to get all sugar off with water because there will still be some left in crevices.

If you are looking for a simple but fairly well-made machine to make cotton candy or give as a gift, then this may be the choice for you!

What makes a Cotton Candy Children's Favourite?

Apparently, children are into anything fun and tasty that includes game-like elements. Cotton Candy is a great invention that allows kids to make their own candy at home from scratch, just like mom and dad do! The cotton candy maker brings together the fun of a carnival and the deliciousness of sugary confectionaries. It's no wonder that this is one of their favourite toys!

boy and girl happy eating cotton candy

Let's have a throwback to our childhood and remember the first time we tried cotton candy. As a kid, I was fascinated by this sugary treat because it looked like fluffy clouds floating in the sky. When I finally got to experience it for myself, I was so surprised by how light yet creamy it felt! It was also very sweet and not just because of its taste but also because of its construction. There we are, the cotton candy machine at homes brings back the way to recreate the experience of enjoying cotton candy for the first time. Not just because of its taste, but also because that you can see each flossy strand being made. It's also a great way to add some entertainment to your next party or get-together!

Things to Consider When Buying a Cotton Candy Maker

Cotton candy has been there around the turn of 1900s, when it was first made by hand using simple tools and ingredients. Today, it's still just as fun to use them but now with more advanced and sophisticated machines that can produce better-quality cotton candy.

Select Dynamic field

You may want to consider a number of factors before making your final decision before buying one, including the following:

How Much Space Do You Have?

Cotton candy makers for home use are usually small and can be stored easily. They are not large or bulky, which means they won’t take up much space in your kitchen cabinet or on the counter. They are lightweight and portable, making them easy to use at any location, including picnics and parties. Most cotton candy makers are also easy to clean because their parts can be detached and washed in the sink with soap and water.

While these machines were created with children in mind, they accomodate adults as well. Besides the produce itself, they need someone to operate! Some cotton candy machines are more kind of commercial and are designed for use in restaurants, yard and amusement parks. These machines are larger, more powerful and can make cotton candy quickly.

So if you have a patio or large balcony and want to host parties where you can make your own cotton candy, just consider whether you want to use a small, compact machine or a larger machine that can be used by several people at once.

How Much Cotton Candy Does Your Machine Produce?

The amount of cotton candy that a machine produces is going to depend on the size and type of the machine. Some machines are designed for small batches, so you can make just enough cotton candy for your children at birthday parties or other gatherings. Other brands may be able to produce more than 2-3 pounds of cotton candy at once—great if you're hosting an event with lots of kids!

The Olde Midway Commercial Cotton Candy Maker is the fastest machine on our list, producing 20 cones of cotton candy in 10 minutes. This is great if you're making cotton candy for a large crowd, especially at an event like a carnival or fair. It's also nice because it doesn't take long for the machine to warm up, so you can make your cones quickly in between customers.

How Efficient Is the Machine?

With so many models available, it can be hard to know what’s best. But before you buy a cotton candy maker, consider these questions: How quickly does the machine produce cotton candy? Does it make a mess? Is it noisy? Does it have a warranty?

An efficient machine will produce cotton candy in no time flat and not leave the operator with sticky hands and clothes. Nevertheless, you also want one that’s easy to use and clean up after. You don’t want to spend your time cleaning an overly complicated machine or dealing with a clumpy mess of sugar and melted plastic!

Can It Be Compactly Stored?

Many home models use are designed to be compact and easy to store. You don’t want one that takes up a lot of space, but you also don’t want one that won’t fit on the countertop in your kitchen. Look for an appliance with a footprint that’s no more than about 15 inches by 15 inches; anything bigger than this may be too bulky for its own good!

This starts to be a consideration because once you get into making cotton candy regularly, you may find yourself using your machine more often than just on special occasions. If this is the case, finding somewhere safe and dry where they can sit out of sight until needed will help keep them in good working order for longer periods of time.

Is There a Heat-up Time?

The majority of cotton candy makers, including the ones we’ve reviewed, require you to plug them in and wait for the heating element to come up to temperature. Some models have a “ready” light that will let you know when your machine has reached its optimal operating temperature. Once this happens, you can begin making cotton candy in just a few minutes.

How Easy is it to Clean and Use?

The best will be the ones that make the process of using them as easy as possible, particularly when it comes to cleaning. The last thing you want is a machine that's too complicated or time-consuming to clean up after each use, so it's important that your cotton candy maker can be cleaned quickly and easily. If you're only making cotton candy once in a while, then this might not be as big of an issue since one good scrubbing should do the trick for multiple uses. But if you want something that will work well on a regular basis and last long enough for many years of use (and possibly even pass down from generation to generation), then extra durability is crucial.

Will It Allow You to Use Various Flavors of Sugar?

These types will allow your child to make cotton candy with different flavors, like chocolate, vanilla or strawberry. Furthermore, they can also add color to their creations by using food coloring or other non-toxic paints in order to make their cotton candy look even more fun!

Blueberry and vanilla cotton candy flavors

Another great feature with these machines is the ability for them to create multiple shapes and sizes at once. If your child wants a round shape instead of a cone shape then this machine allows him/her that option as well as many others!

Is the Quality of Construction Worth the Price?

This can be hard to test without actually using your machine. Here are some things to watch out for:

  • Make sure that the motor is strong enough to spin all the way around in one go (the faster it spins, the better). If your motor stops partway through spinning, you'll end up with an unevenly formed cotton candy.
  • Pay attention to how loud it gets as well. The louder something is when operating and cooling down after use, the better quality it probably is (this also means less noise pollution).
  • Look at how big your machine's parts are compared with other products on Amazon and whether or not those seem like they'd break easily if dropped off a table onto concrete flooring (if so then this might not be worth spending money on).

FAQ

Can kids operate these cotton candy makers?

Though it's stated that children ages 10 and up can use these products, parents should be careful to supervise their children while they are operating the machine, as it does involve some risk of being caught up in the machinery, burning their hand or spilling sugar syrup on oneself. Parents can also help with initial setup and ensure children know to take frequent breaks so that they don't get too tired from the hard work of turning the handle for long periods of time!

Which cotton candy maker is better for kids' parties?

For most parties, a large cotton candy maker is best, which will be able to make enough for everybody. If you're hostessing a very small party and want the cotton candy to stay fresh for longer than 3 hours, then go with the smaller one.

The larger sized cotton candy machine is also a good idea because there won't be any accidents with the floss getting wrapped around their fingers or mouths. This machine is also more designed to withstand any commotions that may happen. Another great thing about a large cotton candy maker is that it has much less chance of breaking than smaller ones, so you won't have to worry about risk factors if kids want to make some more after the party ends.

What is the difference between floss sugar and hard sugar cotton candy makers?

It is about whether a hard or soft variety of sugar is used to make the product with the machine. Harder sugars require higher temperatures to achieve optimal production capacities, so anyone who cannot afford a machine with at least 450w heating element should choose the soft version.

We also recommend you crush the sugar in advance, and then just pour it over the cotton candy maker's heating element. This will produce much quicker results because there is less heat loss involved with this process.

Can I use normal sugar for cotton candy?

Yes. It is a popular misconception that only specialized sugar may be used for cotton candy- in fact, it can be made with any type of sugar that's fine enough.

The purpose of using different sugars is twofold- first, to vary the color of your cotton candy, and second to change its stickiness (candyfloss will eff up your teeth). For a true blue dye job or more wet and sticky cotton candy like I usually make as part of my birthday parties, you might want to use corn syrup or honey.

Do you have to use corn syrup to make cotton candy?

No, you don't. Normally, we use corn syrup to make cotton candy, because it is a thicker liquid which creates the traditional "sticky" feeling that people are used to with this treat- but any type of sugar can be substituted in for some or all of your regular granulated white sugar if desired.

Conclusion

This is the perfect time of year to start thinking about presents for your kids. If you want to find one with enough features but doesn't cost too much money, we think that the Cotton Candy Express CC1000-S is a great choice for home use. It's easy to use and clean, doesn't take up too much space on the counter top, and is sure to please.

If you are going to serve at a party, you'll want to consider the size of your cotton candy maker- in that case we recommend going with Olde Midway as our top pick for a large outdoor party with kids. You can make at least 3 cotton candy per minute with this machine, and it does an excellent job of making sure that the stringy sugar doesn't clog up the auger. So, reload, and in a few minutes you'll be ready to make some more!

It has many features like a heavy duty, commercial grade motor and stainless steel exterior casing to withstand wear and tear from kids at play. Don't forget about safety first when choosing any cotton candy maker - make sure there are no sharp edges anywhere on its surface or moving parts as this could pose injury risks to children who might not know better than to touch them. You'll have plenty of time for fun after getting some delicious cotton candy made up if you invest wisely now!

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About the author 

Cindy Bruce

Cindy Bruce is a passionate artisan bread baker. She has a love for cooking and all the different appliances that go along with it. Cindy's dream is to travel the world, sampling new tastes and foods from each country she visits.

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