The origin of cotton candy is caught up in two conflicting tales. The first cites Thomas Patton as the first to obtain a patent for a cotton candy machine in 1900, with a device that utilized a rotating plate to spin the sugar threads through a fork. He introduced his machine at the Ringling Bros. Circus, also in 1900.

Others claim it was William Morrison and John Wharton of Nashville, TN who created the first cotton candy machine in 1897. They received a patent in 1899 for their device which operated much like cotton candy machines today by heating the sugar to a liquid state and forcing the liquid through tiny holes to create thin wisps of sugar. Dubbing it "fairy floss," they debuted the product at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. Their reports indicate they sold 68,655 boxes of fairy floss at a quarter a piece for an unbelievable gross profit of $17,163.75.

Regardless of which inventor truly brought cotton candy to the world, confectioners everywhere agree: cotton candy is a sweet treat they wouldn't miss!