'Scary Face' pancakes rematerialize at IHOP Restaurants

On Halloween, for children under 12, they're free

As an added bonus, seasonal favorite pumpkin pancakes, though not in costume, return to the menu through January

IHOP Restaurants may want to change their name to the "International Haunted House of Pancakes" this October, with the return of the frighteningly delicious "Scary Face" pancakes. This customizable treat has returned to the "Just for Kids" menu now through the rest of the month.

As an added treat, on Halloween itself, Friday Oct. 31, children can enjoy their petrifying playful pancake portrait for free at participating IHOP restaurants (from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.).

Each "Scary Face" pancake order comes with one of IHOP restaurants' world famous buttermilk pancakes decorated with a beaming whipped topping smile and eyes, and a strawberry nose. Kids can use a kit of toppings - eight pieces of sweet candy corn and two mini Oreos - to finish decorating the face any way they choose.

"Wouldn't it be great if you had a neighbor who gave out delicious buttermilk pancakes instead of just candy for trick-or-treating? This Halloween, your local IHOP restaurant will be that neighbor!" said Marie Grimm, VP culinary and menu, International House of Pancakes. "We're very excited to see what our young guests will create this year. And as a treat for our older guests, we've returned our most popular seasonal favorite pancake - pumpkin pancakes - to the menu. They're so good, it's just plain scary!"