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December 1, 2008 9:22 AM PST

It isn't a kitchen, it's an amusement park

by Jennifer Lowell

Put your own spin on regular ol' table sugar.

(Credit: Hammacher Schlemmer)

When was the last time you had cotton candy? In my case, I'd have to travel back to the early parts of my teenage years to reminisce about the pink and blue spun sugar treat, but if you're still a practicing fan, chances are that you still haven't had it since summer.

If you can't brave the winter chill without your cotton candy fix, then maybe you should consider putting this Tabletop Cotton Candy Maker on your holiday wish list. It spins ordinary table sugar into the cotton confection we know and love so well, and can be used by all of your house guests this season, no matter how old or young they are.

The machine works in a manner similar to its larger counterparts: adding sugar to the heating chamber liquefies it, and then it is shaped into long strands that bind together to create the cottony fluff. These can be collected on a chopstick or straw and eaten as-is or wrapped up for later. You can also add food coloring if you want theme park authenticity.

The Tabletop Cotton Candy Machine can be dismantled for easy cleaning, and it includes a handy scoop so that you know how much sugar you should add. If you want to give someone this sugar-spinner, you can order one from the Hammacher Schlemmer Web site for $69.95.

Jenn Lowell is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CNET.
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by NinasPinta December 1, 2008 3:38 PM PST
Ha! I have this cotton candy maker, and I do like it. We got a cotton candy maker as a gift from a friend a few years ago, but it was weak. It took forever to make a full ball of cotton candy and it cracked after only a couple of uses, so we ended up trashing it. Then after my youngest daughter spent a day at her friend's house playing and making cotton candy, she had to have one. I wanted something of better quality this time, so I bought this one from Hammacher Schlemmer. I figured it'd work better than the cheap one we had before. Plus, they have a lifetime guarantee on anything you buy from them (rarity, I know). We've used it at least four or five times now, and it works well. It makes the candy pretty quickly, and it's easy to use. No problems. I'd recommend this if you're looking for something fun for the kids to make themselves or if you're a big kid like my hubby. ;)
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