Step 1: Prepare your ingredients

First, gather everything you need. You’ll want your vanilla vodka, strawberry simple syrup, fresh lemon juice, sparkling water, ice, and of course, that fluffy pink cotton candy. Make sure the cotton candy is set aside and fluffed up for the final garnish.

Step 2: Shake it up

In your cocktail shaker, add the vanilla-flavored vodka, strawberry simple syrup, fresh lemon juice, sparkling water, and a small ball (about two inches in size) of cotton candy. Throw in the ice last—it’ll help chill the mixture as you shake. Now, give it a good, vigorous shake for about 15 seconds. You’ll hear the ice clinking around, and that’s how you know everything’s getting properly mixed.

(Here’s a tip I learned the hard way: Don’t overfill your shaker, especially with the sparkling water. The fizz can create pressure, and you’ll end up with a bit of a mess. Trust me on this one!)

Step 3: Strain and pour

Strain the cocktail into a highball glass, leaving the ice behind in the shaker. The drink will be this gorgeous pale pink, with a light sparkle from the sparkling water. It’s almost too pretty to drink!

Step 4: The final (and most fun) step

Take a fluffed-up ball of cotton candy and gently place it on top of the glass. Be careful here—you don’t want it to touch the liquid, or it’ll dissolve immediately! This garnish is all about the visual impact. If you’re feeling fancy, you can even sprinkle a few edible glitter flakes on top of the cotton candy for extra flair.