Pancakes! One of the first foods I mourned when getting the news that I would never, ever, ever, eat gluten again. Yet there are a surprising number of gluten-free pancake mixes on the market, and I’ve been in not one — but two — restaurants that even make their ‘cakes gf. This means I am not alone in the hardcore craving for the flapjack.

Now that I know I can have a pancake whenever my heart desires, it’s time to step things up a notch. A red hot notch. Introducing, the red hot pancake.

Some of you are disgusted right now, and others are in the middle of having your mind’s blown. It’s okay either way, just know that these special, seasonal, treats turn your regular pancake into a cinnamon-y mouth explosion. And that, my friends, is a good thing.

Side note — Can we talk just a second about how red hots went from grocery store staple to only coming out around Valentine’s Day? WEIRD. Also, how rad is it that red hots are gluten-free? Super rad.

The reason I’m positive red hots used to be available year-round is two-fold. One, I was a child candy hoarder. And two, when I would go for sleepovers at my friend Stacey’s house, her mom would always make these amazing red hot pancakes. Which is why I knew my own daughter would freaking love them. And today is my little girl’s 6th birthday (another side note — I simply cannot believe that munchkin was sliced out of me six years ago today), so I made this on Saturday morning. What? Have you ever tried to get a kindergartener out of the house while red hot pancakes are INSIDE the house? Weekday pancakes are for people with nannies.

You may be looking for a recipe for these delicious pancakes of candy. However, the best most awesome way to do it is to get a superior gluten-free pancake mix (I love the Pure Pantry), and add 1/2 cup of red hots like so:

Really, just buy the mix. There is absolutely no reason to try to perfect a homemade gluten-free pancake. Don’t be a hero.