Fb Step02 Atomic Fireballs are made in large rotating pans that are heated by a gas flame. Each piece of candy is formed around a single grain of sugar that is added to the pan. The candy maker, called the “panner,” adds liquid sugar to the rotating pan. This liquid sugar sticks to each grain of sugar, making a hard candy shell. This process is repeated more than 100 times over a two week period, increasing the size of the Atomic Fireball to a one inch ball. Link.