Nostalgia Cotton Candy Machine -Cotton Candy Maker With 2 Reusable Cones, 1 Sugar Scoop - Cotton Candy Machine for Kids Works with Flossing Sugar or Hard Candy for Fun & Convenience-Pink

I held off writing this review until I had the cotton candy machine for a while. I've had it for a few months now and the machine is still working great! I'm perfectly pleased with it. I make sure I clean it properly, as described in the manual, after each use, and I haven't experienced any issues with it. I saw other reviews when I was considering buying it warning that the machine stopping working after a while, and it *could* be that those machines weren't being cleaned properly. The part where the flossugar comes out is VERY small (it has to be so that only the melted sugar comes out, not whole granules), so if you neglect to clean it and let anything build up in there, it probably would stop it working properly. However, take care of the machine as you're supposed to and it should continue working for you as it's supposed to! :D A few tips on operating: 1. Have patience! As other reviews have stated, yes, it IS slow. This is a smaller model, it can only heat up and spin the sugar so fast, so you will have to have a bit of patience. You're not going to produce mass quantities in a small amount of time, but for what it's designed for (small, personal use) it's perfect! 2. Take the instructions rule to let it warm up first seriously. If you don't let it warm up it'll just take even longer to start making the flossugar into cotton candy, so again, see tip #1. 3. On occasion when I'm making the cotton candy it stops shooting it out but I can see there's more in it. I think this happens because the force of the spinning holds a lot of the sugar fairly high in the machine. When this happens I flip it off for a second and after it stops spinning I knock the sugar back down and turn it back on. It only takes a second and usually speeds up the cotton candy process! 4. If you're using hard candies, yes you *can* just stick the whole candy in there. However, as other reviewers have mentioned, it'll come out better if you mix in some regular sugar to soften it up. To that end, I recommend crushing the candy if you can and premixing it with a little extra sugar. I find that the cotton candy comes out not only smoother but faster than waiting for the whole solid candy to melt :D Again, I highly recommend this product! I've been having a delicious blast with it ^_^

Love this little machine. Cotton candy is my all-time favorite treat, and it's hard to find outside of summer fairs and the like. I literally never write product reviews but felt compelled to because of how great this machine is. This thing is fast, super easy to use, and cleanup is a breeze. I saw other reviews warning that it catches on fire, but if you follow the directions it's very safe. I've used it several times and haven't had any problems at all. Super glad I got this as a gift for myself!

I bought this cotton candy machine for my granddaughter for Christmas, and she loves it. She's 11 years old, and it is simple enough for her to put together and use. We read the directions, and she understood that it is important to allow enough warm-up time in order for the sugar or candy to melt properly (3 minutes). I bought a set of the flossing sugar bottles and a large box of the paper cones to go with it. She and her friends had a great time experimenting with the different flavors of flossing sugar and then trying out hard candies, which worked equally well. It took a little time to master the art of how to hold the paper cones and how to gather the "cotton." At first she kept dipping the cones vertically into the spinner, but it was too easy to bump the heating element and then melt the ball of candy on the cone. She also found that the candy gathered too tightly around the cone and ended up in a heavy ball instead of the traditional cottony fluff. After reading some reviews, we found that starting the cone inside the bowl and then holding the cone above the bowl allowed the "cotton" to very lightly wrap around the cone, thereby producing a huge and fluffy cotton candy, just like at the carnival. Although the machine does work very well, there are a few issues I wish the manufacturer would address. The machine vibrates so much that you really need a second person to hold it in place. Putting some rubberized shelving material under it helped some, but you still need a second person to help. This vibrating also shakes the plastic bowl loose. Clean up is easy with the exception of the heating element. Once the heating element has cooled, it needs to be removed for soaking/cleaning. This is NOT an easy chore. I am a pretty strong person, but I had a very hard time removing it. When you push the unit on, you will notice that it goes on VERY tightly. So once it is coated with sugar, cools, and hardens, it is even harder to get off. I actually am concerned that I will break it or bend the post it is mounted on. Be sure there is an adult to do this step of the clean up. I read a few other reviews that addressed these issues, so I know it isn't just the one I bought. But I'm surprised more people haven't mentioned these things in their reviews. Perhaps not all of these machines do this. Once the heating element is removed, clean up is easy. Everything is soaked in hot water for a short while to melt the remaining sugar. No scrubbing is needed. This is a fun machine for a small group of kids (and adults), but I wouldn't plan on using it for a huge birthday party of children; it takes too much time for each cone...maybe 4 or 5 minutes. It's a good idea to read the directions well and some of the reviews here on Amazon before using your machine. Some people have already tried all the different candies that work and will tell you what does not work. This is good information. Overall, we are happy with this purchase.

The Nostalgia Retro Countertop Cotton Candy Maker has brought back delightful memories of childhood fairs and carnivals right into my home! This vintage candy machine is not only adorable in its retro red design, but it also delivers delicious cotton candy that tastes just like the ones I used to enjoy as a kid. One of the best features of this cotton candy maker is its versatility. It works with both hard candies and flossing sugar, providing options for different flavors and textures. I love experimenting with various hard candies to create unique cotton candy flavors, and the results have been delightful every time! The set comes with two reusable cones, a sugar scoop, and an extractor head, making it a complete kit for creating cotton candy at home. The cones are easy to clean and can be used over and over again, saving me the hassle of purchasing disposable cones. Using the machine is a breeze. It heats up quickly and is ready to start spinning cotton candy within minutes. The extractor head works like magic, turning the melted candy or flossing sugar into fluffy and sweet cotton candy in no time. I appreciate the compact and countertop-friendly design of this cotton candy maker. It doesn't take up much space in my kitchen, and the retro red color adds a charming touch to my countertop. Cleaning the machine is simple as well. The extractor head can be easily removed for cleaning, and the unit itself can be wiped down with a damp cloth. The parts are well-made and durable, ensuring the machine will last for many cotton candy-making sessions to come. Not only is this cotton candy maker perfect for family gatherings and parties, but it also brings joy and excitement to any occasion. Watching the cotton candy being spun right in front of my eyes is a delightful experience that never gets old! In conclusion, the Nostalgia Retro Countertop Cotton Candy Maker has exceeded my expectations in every way. Its charming retro design, ease of use, and ability to create delicious cotton candy from both hard candies and flossing sugar make it a fantastic addition to any kitchen. Whether you're hosting a party or just want to enjoy some nostalgic treats, this cotton candy maker is a must-have for all ages. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to add a touch of fun and sweetness to their home!

Was nervous about the many poor reviews, particularly recent ones, so put it together carefully, read the instructions, and watched some YouTube videos about cotton candy machines. After making our first set of batches, my overall take is it's a great little unit. I had no trouble getting it going, waited the full 10 minutes for it to heat up before using it, and used candy floss sugar bought separately (unit doesn't come with any). Spun up into floss in about a minute, and was relatively easy to spin out onto cones (came with the flossing sugar), or a straw / chopstick we had around. We made about 6 'batches' consisting of about a tablespoon of sugar (the max for the unit), and they got eaten very very quickly (faster than I could make them). I set it up outside because of the reviews saying the sugar got sprayed 4 ft in every direction. I did not notice any sugar spraying out of it at all for me; my next batch I will try inside. I did however, find some perhaps 25%-50% of the sugar in the batch fails to make it into the floss, and is flung as small particles onto the walls of the bowl in a ring (where the spinning disk is). I collected it afterward (the pieces snapped off easily) and tried putting a couple big pieces in to re-melt and have less waste. That turned out not to be such a good idea, as the weighting wasn't distributed evenly for the spinning disk. The solution is to crush the hard candy into little pieces first, so that it can spin out more evenly, which I'll try next time. I stopped the machine due to the odd rotation that was occurring, and let it cool. The sugar in the head all hardened inside and looked like a fairly nasty mess to clean up. Good news is it's sugar, so it dissolves in water. After cooling for 20 mins I popped the head off and ran it under hot water and dissolved out all the sugar that had hardened inside. Took a good 10-15 mins to get it all out, so I won't be in any hurry to re-create that situation. But all in all it's straightforward to clean and looks like new again. In sum, does what it's supposed to do (makes delicious cotton candy), is easy to set up, easy to use, and easy to clean. 5 stars. Just know it's small batches, you may want to make some ahead of time if you have a bunch of kids / people that want to eat it.

People, save your money. I have tried everything to make sure the unit and all the assembly pieces are perfectly installed and level. I even put a level on it and it shows level. However, once you put in your sugar, even if you carefully spread the sugar around to make sure it's evenly distributed, the extractor head will become unbalanced and extremely noisy. It got so loud and vibrating so badly, I felt the machine was dangerous to operate. Way too noisy to run the machine with guests standing around. I have experimented by taking the plastic collection bowl and rim off and it was still noisy. Only when you take the wobbly metal extractor head off of it does it become whisper quiet. So I know it's not the motor. I have also completely cleaned the extractor head and put it on by itself -- still noisy and wobbly -- with nothing in it. This makes me believe this little metal plate is designed poorly or not heavy enough material to remain balanced. On a positive note, it does make nice fluffy cotton candy and it does look nice (in a plastic sort of way). I guess if you want to wear ear plugs, you could tolerate the noise enough to make some good cotton candy. I will be returning this machine. Review of replacement product: Since I had ordered $25 worth of fancy cotton candy sugars, which are NOT returnable, I was compelled to request a replacement cotton candy maker. As usual, Amazon is super about allowing you to return the product free of charge and got another machine out to me within a few days. Unfortunately, this machine is just as noisy as the first one. I have included a video which doesn't pick up too well just how noisy it is, but you can get the idea. The dilemma I face is my grandson loves the cotton candy it makes so I will keep this one. I will just have to wear ear plugs when I make him some. If I know I want to serve some to kids at a party I will make it ahead of time because the noise is too disruptive.

First off I gave this 3 stars due mostly due to a pet peeve of mine so read below. First off let me address some of the issues other commenters have knocked these machines for, on the issue of loudness, YES it makes noise and is a little loud, NO it is not overly loud or deafening, I mean it is spinning very fast (not sure of actual RPMs BUT I am not sticking my fingers in there to stop it) to spin the sugar into a web to make the fluffy cotton candy we all bought it to make. YES the spinning at a very fast rpm and not being a 4000 pound commercial cotton candy maker the spinning does make the machine "walk" a little, do not let an inanimate object out think or beat you, I mean just put it somewhere or something around it if your's does that to stop it and then that is not an issue anymore! To those saying this does not work, that they can't get the candy to work/look right, 3 things are a must for the success of making cotton candy: First one; THE MAJOR ONE IS TO FOLLOW the directions! K.I.S.S before turning mine on I inspected it and WOW even READ the directions enclosed 2 times to make sure I understood them. YOU must let it PRE-heat (PRE = BEFORE putting anything that you want to spin into cotton candy in the spinning basket) up 5 minutes (for hard candies i.e. peppermints, 2 - 3 at the time crushed up works best) and 10 minutes for loose sugar/pre-flavored floss before EVEN putting any kind of sugar, hard candy, or pre-flavored floss in! If not you will take forever and be a mess. 2nd your ingredients do matter! Amounts and kinds such as the cheap floss/sugar did not work as well for us, hard candies work best if crushed before putting them in hand 2-4 at the time 3 was my perfect number for me. On the sugar. I bought a kit of 5 flavors of a good brand and a couple of a cheaper brand, the first few I tried out of other one using the 1 scoop as the directions say where small on the cones and not pretty or impressive to the kids. NOW 2 scoops of any floss worked great YEAH I sat there spinning my cones collecting candy for a while longer but the kids loved it much bigger and fluffier then. The ones made with the cheaper floss were still smaller and comparing the flavors we all agreed the more expensive floss/sugar was more flavorful even comparing the same flavors! Third and last: PAY attention the hotter it gets the faster and more floss it makes, so it is easy for it to build up to fast for your collecting skills if you let it even using the one scoop or 2 candies. NOW here is my issue and the reason I knocked it down to 3 stars. The spinning candy cup slides onto the pole for the motor and is MEANT to be EASILY removed for cleaning, BUT my issue is each time I used the machine when it came time to remove and clean it the cup it felt stuck to the motor shaft. The first time I used it I went to remove the cup for cleaning and I felt as if I was going to break the cup it finally did come off as intended but I thought I would tear the machine apart to get off that way. By the second and third time, I figured out to carefully unscrewed the cup itself using the acorn nut. You have to be careful to keep up with the nut, washer, and cup that way but much easier to remove and wash them being careful not to lose any pieces re-assembled the cup to the shaft the was intended to just easily pull iff the motor shaft from using the machine itself. I am not sure if it is just mine or what or it could be a be a bad design. While a little more time consuming and aggravating to do it this way I intend to find an acorn nut of the same size and thread as the original nut but with an attached washer to replace it with so as not to lose it since this seems like this is the way I must go from now on since it seems and feels less likely to break the machine itself.

I recently used this cotton candy machine, and it was a blast! It was easy to set up and didn’t take long to start spinning. The machine warmed up quickly and started making fluffy cotton candy in just a few minutes. It was fun to watch the sugar turn into big, soft clouds of cotton candy. The texture was light and airy, just like at fairs — not too sticky and easy to enjoy. Cleanup was pretty simple too, since most parts came off easily for washing. Overall, this cotton candy machine is fun, easy to use, and makes great-tasting cotton candy. It’s perfect for parties, sleepovers, or just a sweet treat at home! 🍬😊

Perfect !

Llego en buen estado, funciona todo.

The product was in clean shape it’s easy to clean all the parts were there and we were able to creat a good amount of cotton candy.it doesn’t take a long time to heat up.Over all I really loved the product

Hace fácil los algodones, es sencilla para limpiar, solo que no puedo hacer los algodones más grandes, tarda algún tiempo en calentar.

Excellent produit. Très belle petite machine à barbe à papa. Comme le précise le fabricant, cette machine n’est pas du tout un jouet pour enfant. Des consignes de sécurité sont incluses. Le fonctionnement est simple : On allume la machine et on la laisse chauffer pendant 10 minutes. Après 10 minutes, on éteint la machine. On place le sucre au centre et ont remet la machine en marche. Après plusieurs secondes, la machine commencera à faire de la barbe à papa. Il est recommandé de ne pas trop mettre de sucre à la fois. D’ailleurs, une cuillère de la quantité maximale de sucre à utiliser est inclus dans la boîte. Deux cônes pour enrouler la Barbe à papa est aussi inclus (voir photo). Avec 1 cuillère de sucre, la machine produit un beau cône de barbe à papa (voir photo). Un réel plaisir pour toute la famille, mais qui doit être utilisé avec précaution. Mon seul point négatif, c’est que notre machine à été livrée sans aucun pieds (voir photo en dessous). Des ventouses auraient dû être dans la boîte. Sans pieds solides, la machine se promène et doit être absolument tenue par quelqu’un. Donc, nous avons dû nous trouver des pieds en caoutchouc pour faire en sorte que la machine reste bien en place sur la table.