Arguably one of our favorite parts of going to the State Fair is to obtain that bright, massive cloud of flavored sugar that sizzles and dissipates in our mouth. Yes, we’re talking about cotton candy! If you’re following a gluten-free lifestyle, you may be wondering if this fluffy cloud is gluten-free.
Cotton candy is naturally gluten-free as it is made from spun sugar that is melted down. Fun Sweets, Swirlz, and Charms are some brands that offer gluten-free cotton candy. However, cotton candy if loaded with sugar. The best healthier gluten-free alternatives to cotton candy include Max Sweets Classic Vanilla Max Mallow and Tidbits Keto Vanilla Meringue.
As we travel through this article, we will go over whether cotton candy is good or bad for you, and list some gluten-free cotton candy brands and their healthier alternatives. Let’s dig in!
Contents
- Is Cotton Candy Bad For You?
- Nutritional Facts for Cotton Candy
- Fun Sweets, Cotton Candy Cherry Berry & Blue Raspberry
- Swirlz, Taste of Nature Cotton Candy
- Charms, Fluffy Stuff Cotton Candy
- Bag of Unicorn Farts, Cotton Candy
- Unicornucopia, Unicorn Barf Rainbow Cotton Candy
- Just Snackin’, Cotton Candy
- Lieber’s, Cotton Candy
- Chocolate Storybook, Blue Raspberry Gourmet Cotton Candy
- Maud Borup, Unicorn Dream Cotton Candy Raspberry Flavor With Candy Bits
- Healthy Gluten-Free Alternatives to Cotton Candy
- Related Questions
Is Cotton Candy Bad For You?
Yes. Cotton candy is sugar melted and shaped into sugar strands and usually added with more sugary flavors. Consuming sugar (refined and added sugar, not natural sugars that come from fruits), is notoriously bad for your teeth – we’ve all heard it from our dentists. The bacteria that live in your mouth consume the sugar in the sugary foods we eat and release acids that cause tooth decay.
Interestingly enough, it takes about 30 grams of sugar to make a usual serving size of cotton candy. That’s about 9 grams less than a 12 ounce can of Coke, which is more common for people to consume on the regular than cotton candy.
So to answer your question, no cotton candy is not good for you.
Nutritional Facts for Cotton Candy
Fun Sweets, Cotton Candy Cherry Berry & Blue Raspberry
Fun Sweets’ Cotton Candy flavors, like this Cherry Berry & Blue Raspberry, are all gluten-free! Making sure to keep their products fat-free and guilt-free, Fun Sweets has an array of flavors for cotton candy lovers to choose from.
Ingredients for this flavor include:
- Pure Cane Sugar
- Artificial Flavors And Colors (Red #40, Blue #1)
- Gluten-free
- Fat-free
- GMO-free
- Peanut-free
- Allergen-free
Nutrition Facts (per 1 oz, 28g):
- Calories- 110
- Total Fat- 0g
- Total Carbs- 28g
- Protein- 0g
Swirlz, Taste of Nature Cotton Candy
Swirlz cotton candy flavors, like this Taste of Nature Cotton Candy, are gluten-free! Containing zero fat, Swirlz cotton candy is hand spun in the United States.
Ingredients for this flavor include:
- Sugar
- Artificial and Natural Flavors
- Artificial Colors (Including FD&C Blue 1, Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6)
- Fat-free
- Gluten-free
- Sodium-free
- Cholesterol-free
- Kosher
Nutrition Facts (per 1 oz, 28g):
- Calories- 110
- Total Fat- 0g
- Total Carbs- 28g
- Protein- 0g
Charms, Fluffy Stuff Cotton Candy
Although this Fluffy Stuff Cotton Candy by Charms is gluten-free, it does contain a bioengineered ingredient. That can make sway most people to stay away from a product, but it is up to the individual on whether they wish to consume this product.
Ingredients for this flavor include:
- Sugar
- Artificial and Natural Flavors
- Artificial Colors (Including FD&C Red 40, Blue 1)
- Turmeric Coloring
- Gluten-free
- Nut-free
- Kosher
- CONTAINS A BIOENGINEERED FOOD INGREDIENT MADE FROM U.S. CROPS
Nutrition Facts (per 71g):
- Calories- 270
- Total Fat- 0g
- Total Carbs- 71g
- Protein- 0g
Bag of Unicorn Farts, Cotton Candy
If you’re looking for a fun gag gift for the family, this Bag of Unicorn Farts Cotton Candy is it. This magical treat is gluten-free, with a sweet taste that will brighten up your day!
Ingredients for this flavor include:
- Sugar
- Artificial and Natural Flavors
- Artificial Colors
- Gluten-free
- Allergen-friendly
- No High Fructose Corn Syrup
Nutrition Facts (per 1 oz, 28g):
- Calories- 110
- Total Fat- 0g
- Total Carbs- 26g
- Protein- 0g
Unicornucopia, Unicorn Barf Rainbow Cotton Candy
Layered with six different flavors including Cherry, Peach, Pineapple, Lime, Blueberry, and Grape, Unicornucopia’s Unicorn Barf Rainbow Cotton Candy is filled with unicorn colors and flavors. This cotton candy is gluten-free and perfect to share the “magical” deliciousness of this cotton candy.
Ingredients for this flavor include:
- Pure Cane Sugar
- Artificial Flavors & Artificial Flavors (Including FD&C Blue 1, Red 3, Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6)
- Gluten-free
- Nut-free
- Soy-free
- Dairy-free
Nutrition Facts (per 1 oz, 28g):
- Calories- 114
- Total Fat- 0g
- Total Carbs- 28g
- Protein- 0g
Just Snackin’, Cotton Candy
Made in large tubs to spread the joy of flavor and sweet sugary goodness, this cotton candy by Just Snackin’ is gluten-free. It comes in two different flavors and colors—pink and blue.
Ingredients for this flavor include:
- Sugar
- Artificial Colors (Including FD&C Red 40, Blue1)
- Gluten-free
- Peanut-free
- Fat-free
Nutrition Facts (per 2.2 oz, 56.1g):
- Calories- 220
- Total Fat- 0g
- Total Carbs- 56.1g
- Protein- 0g
Lieber’s, Cotton Candy
Lieber’s Cotton Candy uses special packaging to preserve that fresh carnival taste that has your tastebuds crying in relief and making the buy worth it. This cotton candy is gluten-free and kosher, with a load of fruity, delicious flavors in each bite.
Ingredients for this flavor include:
- Sugar
- Artificial Flavors (If Pink – Red #40) (If Blue – Blue #1 If Purple – Blue #1, Red #3) (If Orange – Red #40, Yellow #6)
- Gluten-free
- Kosher
- Soy-free
Nutrition Facts (per 0.8oz):
- Calories- 87
- Total Fat- 0g
- Total Carbs- 22g
- Protein- 0g
Chocolate Storybook, Blue Raspberry Gourmet Cotton Candy
Chocolate Storybook’s Gourmet Cotton Candy is one of the cotton candy brands that gluten-free individuals need to be cautious of. They do not hold any gluten-free labels or promises of gluten-free ingredients.
Ingredients for this flavor include:
- Sugar
- Blue 1
- Artificial Flavor
- Red 40
- Red 3
Nutrition Facts (per .86oz, 25g):
- Calories- 100
- Total Fat- 0g
- Total Carbs- 25g
- Protein- 0g
Maud Borup, Unicorn Dream Cotton Candy Raspberry Flavor With Candy Bits
This Unicorn Dream Cotton Candy Raspberry Flavor With Candy Bits from Maud Borup is made using ingredients derived from plants and is free from artificial dyes and flavors. This cotton candy is gluten-free. Maud Borup has created other gluten-free flavors to be enjoyed!
Ingredients for this flavor include:
- Organic Cane Sugar
- Organic Candy Bits (Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Brown Rice Syrup, Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, Black Carrot Concentrate [Color], Black Currant Concentrate [Color], Turmeric [Color], Organic Annatto [Color])
- Organic Raspberry Flavor Powder (Organic Dextrose, Natural Flavors)
- Cherry Microfine Color (Gum Arabic, Vegetable Juice [Color], Maltodextrin, Citric Acid)
- Gluten-free
- Vegan
- USDA Organic
- Nut-free
- Non-GMO
Nutrition Facts (per 1 Tub, 28g):
- Calories- 110
- Total Fat- 0g
- Total Carbs- 27g
- Protein- 0g
Healthy Gluten-Free Alternatives to Cotton Candy
Max Sweets, Classic Vanilla Max Mallow
Max Sweets’ products, like this Classic Vanilla Max Mallow, use ingredients like MCT Oil (healthy fat that fuels the body and mind), collagen protein (reduces cravings, supports muscle mass, and lowers blood pressure), and prebiotic fiber (improves metabolic and digestive health) to boost overall health with each mallow! This healthy treat is gluten-free and diabetic-friendly.
Ingredients for this flavor include:
- Xylitol
- Prebiotic Inulin Powder (Chicory and/or Artichoke)
- Monkfruit Sweetener Blend (Non-GMO Erythritol and Monkfruit Extract)
- Grass-fed Gelatin (Bovine)
- Grass-fed Hydrolyzed Collagen Peptides (Bovine)
- MCT Oil (Medium Chain Triglyceride)
- Salt
- Vanilla
- Keto-friendly
- Paleo-friendly
- Diabetic-friendly
- Dairy-free
- Sugar-free
- Gluten-free
Nutrition Facts (per 2 Mallows, 16g):
- Calories- 15
- Total Fat- 0g
- Total Carbs- 5g
- Protein- 1g
Tidbits, Keto Vanilla Meringue
Tidbit’s Keto Vanilla Meringue satisfies those heinous sugary cravings without consuming a whole bunch of sugar, calories, and carbs. This treat is gluten-free, with zero carbs and sugar!
Ingredients for this flavor include:
- Isomalt
- Egg whites
- Rice flour
- Natural Flavor
- 2% or less of cream of tartar
- Stevia
- Agave syrup (Adds Trivial Amount of Sugar)
- Salt
- Gluten-free
- Sugar-free
- Lactose-free
- Soy-free
- No Artificial Colors
- No High Fructose Corn Syrup
- CONTAINS EGG
Nutrition Facts (per 8 Tidbits, 10g):
- Calories- 10
- Total Fat- 0g
- Total Carbs- 5g
- Protein- 0g
Jed’s Maple, Maple Cotton Candy
Made using only two ingredients, Jed’s Maple Cotton Candy melts in your mouth with that wonderful taste of maple. It is gluten-free and filled with wholesome ingredients, making it a guilt-free treat.
Ingredients for this flavor include:
- Cane Sugar
- Organic Maple Sugar
- Gluten-free
- Vegetarian
Nutrition Facts (per 1 Tub, 28g):
- Calories- 110
- Total Fat- 0g
- Total Carbs- 27g
- Protein- 0g
Related Questions
Where to find cotton candy machine rental?
If you’re a sucker for cotton candy, or your kids are, you don’t have to worry about buying a cotton candy machine! You can easily find a local cotton candy machine rental for a birthday party, holiday, or celebratory event, by searching online.
How to make cotton candy sugar?
Cotton candy sugar is melted until it becomes a liquid. It is then spun in a machine and, as it cools, it takes the shape of sugary threads. And that is how cotton candy is made!
What are cotton candy grapes?
If you’ve never tried cotton candy grapes, you need to! They taste just like cotton candy, each bite sweet and flavorful. They also help in regulating blood sugar, alleviating inflammation, boosting brain function, fighting bacteria, helping prevent cancer, and packing a punch of beneficial antioxidants.
Where to find Cotton candy ice cream?
This colorful ice cream can be found at your local grocery store or, if you’re lucky enough, your local ice cream or baked goods shop! There are usually more options and brands that can be found at your local grocery store, but truly, there’s nothing quite like homemade ice cream.