Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies

I am notoriously awful at hearing song lyrics correctly. I have become so good at mishearing lyrics, it's becoming something of an art form (or at least that's what I tell myself). Of course, I have no idea I'm hearing them wrong; it isn't until I sing them loud enough for others to hear do I become aware of this. Embarrassing? Yes. Humiliating? Just a bit. No one wants to be that person belting out the wrong words to a favorite song.

Let me give you a few examples. We'll start small.

Only a year ago did I learn the true lyrics to Prince's When Doves Cry. I've always heard "When the worlds collide" instead of "When Doves Cry." When Doves Cry may be the conclusion of the chorus and the name of the song, but my translation sounded so cool I didn't question it. The real lyrics are much more disappointing than my own interpretation, I think. Doves crying isn't nearly as awesome as entire worlds smashing into each other. In fact, this misheard imagery is what made me a Prince fan in the first place. Such is life.

There was a commercial when I was very young featuring Johnny Nash's I Can See Clearly Now. The song was used to sell glasses for the masses. They changed the lyrics from "I can see clearly now, I can see all obstacles in my way" to "I can see clearly now, I can see all opticals in my way." Clever advertising, but my small, undeveloped mind didn't notice this. It wasn't until I was singing this song in a car full of friends did someone point out that it wasn't opticals, but obstacles. It took me nearly 18 years to be corrected on that one. Once I actually thought about the lyrics, it seemed strange that Johnny Nash would be obsessed enough with eye health to include it in his songs.

Perhaps the most absurd misheard lyrics comes from One Republic's Apologize. Instead of "it's too late to apologize," I've always heard "it's too late to father a child." I kid you not. The first time I heard the song, these lyrics stopped me in my tracks. Too late to father a child? When is it ever too late to father a child? Why is the song called Apologize? Whenever the song played on the radio, I'd listen closely to the lyrics trying to find some context for this conclusion (of which there is none, by the way). I couldn't understand how this song was so popular despite the fact that it didn't make an ounce of sense. Eventually I brought my confusion about this up to a friend who set the record straight. To this day I struggle to hear the real lyrics whenever the song plays. It's too late to father a chiiiild, it's too laaate...

What are your best misheard lyrics?

This recipe is my first foray into gluten-free foods and I'm not disappointed. These flourless peanut butter cookies are the ultimate peanut butter cookie. The peanut butter flavor is concentrated and intense and so good. Even without flour, these cookies hold together well and do not crumble. Because I am such a sucker for chocolate, I drizzled a little on top, but this step is completely optional; the cookies don't need anything extra to taste great. If you like peanut butter cookies, make this recipe instead (trust me on this one). With only four ingredients, these cookies are a snap to make.

Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies
Adapted from Gluten-Free Girl

Yields about 12 cookies

1 cup peanut butter (I used extra-chunky for more texture)
2/3 cup sugar, plus extra for rolling
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 egg
Chocolate, for drizzling (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a medium mixing bowl, cream together the peanut butter and sugar. It is much easier to do it by hand than to use a machine; just use a tough spatula. Mix in the baking powder and egg until evenly combined.

Form small balls and roll cookie dough in extra sugar. Place evenly on a baking sheet and flatten slightly with a fork. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Cool on the baking sheet for at least 5-10 minutes before moving to a cooling rack to cool completely. The cookies will be very fragile and need to harden before they can be moved. Drizzle with chocolate, if desired.

Comments

[Emily Hunt]

Oh my gosh, your version of Apologize is too funny. Actually, the song came out when I was a senior in college and my best friend/roommate thought it was "too late to pop a jive." We were in the car when I heard her sing it that way and I almost drove off the road I was laughing so much. I guess that song is just a hard one to understand.

[Blog is the New Black]

Love this! Looks yummy!

[Valerie]

these must be delicious ! I came across your blog tonight via pinterest and as i'm typing this there's a batch of your vanilla almond cupcakes -- gluten-free version -- in my oven ...smelling heavenly, already :)

[Kristin Rosenau]

Emily--Haha, I love those lyrics.

Valerie--Let me know how those taste! I'm curious how a gluten-free version would turn out.

[Victor]

I wrote that recipe down from Gluten-Free Girl like two years ago in my customize cookbook, never had a chance to bake it. Yours turn out beautifully.

P.S - I bet you can't live without chocolate for a whole month ;)

[Christina]

Great post! I sometimes have trouble understanding song lyrics too and even when I'm corrected I just can't seem to sing the song that way because my version is so much better... ;) These cookies look incredible, can't believe how simple they are to make!

[Dee]

These look scrumptious! I too never know the correct lyrics. I feel your embarrassment! I love your blog by the way.

[Kristin Rosenau]

Victor--You know I can't live without chocolate for 24 hours. I'd never make it a month. I shudder to even think...

Christina--Almost too simple to make! I made a batch, tried a cookie, and immediately made two more. These are dangerous.

Dee--Thanks!

[Medeja]

This sounds good, I never thought that its possible to make cookies without flour from peanut butter :)

[Katarina]

These cookies look delicious!

[Annie]

Just made a batch of cookies. DELICIOUS! :)

[Timothy]

These are so simple and so delicious. Thank you so much!

[Jenn with a smile]

:) love it! I always thought the words were Band Run and it was Panama...Van Halen...slightly off!!! I am trying these cookies for my hubbys buddies tonight!!!

[Suzy]

Cookies look great. I enjoyed your lyrical confession. I'm sure I've misheard many a lyric myself, but the funniest thing that comes to mind is from the little sister of my best friend. She thought the GoGo's tune We Got the Beat was actually We Got Wet Feet! Its been almost 30 years since that song was out, but I still remember her interpretation every time I hear or think of the song.

[Former Shaun Cassidy fan]

Yes, I am that old... but you don't know me, so it doesn't matter. Shaun Cassidy had a song "Strange Sensation" (it probably wasn't his song originally, but that's who I knew it from)... for years my mom insisted that he was singing "Change the station...", which is probably wishful thinking in addition to misheard lyrics.

Cookies look YUMMY!

[Natalia - a side of simple]

I am ALWAYS on the hunt for a good peanut butter cookie recipe, especially gluten free. Your cookies look delicious!! Can't wait to try them :)

[Jessica (Gluten Free Confessions)]

These look amazing!! We are a huge peanut butter fan....gorgeous!

[Lara]

Cookies look great! I'm going to have to try those!!! Talking about misunderstood lyrics, years ago, a friend of mine had a daughter who was probably 8-9 yrs old at the time, and ever ytime she heard the song "Walk Like An Egyptian"...she thought it was "Walk like your butt's itching"!!! How about that?!?!

[bhavani@ameanderingmango]

Wow - I love peanut butter in my cookies! Interesting that you didn't use any flour and they still turned out so perfect...They look even more tasty with that chocolate drizzle. Will definitely be back for more posts. Thanks for sharing!

[Gina @Addicted Baker]

These look absolutely amazing. yummy! Great pictures too!

[Karen]

I think I could live on peanut butter cookies. These look so good! I've gotten some lyrics wrong in my day...I can completely relate!

[Jess]

I can't believe these are flourless. They look amazing!

[lacey - a sweet pea chef]

These looks great! I'm going to add it to my monthly round-up of great food blog posts! Thanks :) Hilarious post, by the way!

[Molly @ Drexelius Chocolates]

I tell people chocolate is optional, too -- for me, it's like breathing
thank you for sharing this recipe -- i look forward to trying it -- with chocolate, of course!!

[carine]

Beautiful! I LOVE PEANUT BUTTER!! They're addictive!! haha. yours with chocolate drizzle, wow, must be a HIT.

[Mama Rose]

I can attest first hand that these peanut butter cookies taste amazing! Definitely worth a try. I, too, have a story about misheard song lyrics. It may be before your time, but the Oak Ridge Boys had a popular song out called, "Elvira." My special little nephew asked me one day, "Have you heard that new song?" So I asked him to sing it for me. He sang, "I'll buy wood . . . I'll buy wood . . . I'll buy wood . . . today!" Very cute! :)

[Ally]

Yum. Substituted Splenda, and still delish! So funny song lyric story....when I was little I would always sing along with the radio on car rides. One day, my mom had to literally pull over because she was laughing so hard at what I was singing, and the conviction behind the words coming out of my mouth. It was the 1985 hit "Everytime you go away." Well, the rest of the lyrics follow "you take a piece of ME with you." Nope, not having those lyrics. Here I am, top of my range, blasting it from my lungs...."everytime yeeeewwww gooo awaaaay, yeeeewwww take a piece of MEAT with yeeewww!!" Somewhere in my little 4 year old brain it made complete sense, and I was utterly insulted to be laughed at. Can't hear that song to this day without cracking a smile...

[beth]

came across this recipe a while ago and saved it to my online cookbook (http;//cookmarked.com). made them last night and they were awesome. i also added a pinch of salt as my all natural, only peanuts, peanut butter needed a kick for this recipe.

[Marjo]

Just took the cookies out of the oven and had to taste one when it was still warm...I couldn't resist...OMG they are divine! Thanks for sharing!

[ann-marie]

I've just discovered your blog and am loving it already, I'm absolutely going to try the orange scones soon! As for misheard lyrics, my friend did a real good job on a black eyed l\pea song, in their newest album The beginning there's a song called Light up the night, where they sing: let's light up the night. My friend was sure they were saying let's slide up and mate. I had a good laugh =P Then again I'm not much better, in the same album there's the song called Velvet lounge, in which I could hear: in the living lounge, instead of velvet lol Maybe we should both pay more attention to the titles of the songs we listen to =P

[Jenn with a smile]

I have to know how Ally did this with splenda?? whats the measurements and what did you roll them in ? Splenda or left them au natural? I made them as the recipe and it was a big hit on poker night! Id like to do a sugarfree one though!

[Ghetta]

Ohhhh my goshhhh!!!
i´m celiac, and i live in Argentina, but i love penaut butter!!! and this cookies look amazing!!!
thanks a lot for sharing

[spiceblogger]

Great recipe! I'm making these for our Easter treat!
Thanks for sharing.

[spiceblogger]

I shared this recipe on my blog and added a link back to your site. You can view it here:
http://www.inthelandofspice.com/spiceblog/spiceblog/Entries/2011/4/24_Easter_Brunch.html

[brilynn]

A batch of these made with honey roasted peanuts are just coming out of the oven and they smell ah-mazing!

[Karen]

I just tried to make a batch of Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies...How in heck can you make little balls outta that stuff ~ impossible!!! But, worth a try

[Gill]

My parents are United Church ministers, so growing up we had lots of hymns being casually belted out every now and then. One of them, "Holy, Holy, Holy" had a line that went, "God in three persons, blessed trinity." But my little two-year old self found a new spin on it and I would happily sing, "God in three purses, bless and kiss the tree!" Twenty years later, my dad still sings those lyrics.

[LoveIowa]

I needed to make cookies and I needed to make them fast -saw this simple recipe -Knew I didn't have anything to loose...BUT THESE ARE THE BEST- very sugary when using fine granulated sugar- I loved these cookies and even made a second batch for fun and added some dark rum!!! Thanks.

[Cooking Rookie]

I just made these cookies - they are absolutely wonderful! So simple to make, no butter, no flour and so soft and chewy. My bf loves them :-). Thanks so much for the recipe!

[Lianne]

I made these cookies as ''Thumbprint Jam cookies'' because I didn't have chocolate to drizzle on them...they turned out wonderfully, melt in your mouth, delicious...
I've shared the recipe with a couple of friends...what we want to know is if we can freeze these cookies after backing them?

[Kristin Rosenau]

Lianne-- No reason you can't freeze them after baking! Just keep them sealed in an airtight container or in double-layered plastic bags. They'll keep well for 4-6 weeks (or longer, if they are sealed properly). Remove them from the container and thaw them on the countertop before serving.