We investigated the topography of mixed bilayers consisting of a first monolayer of DMPE (dimyristoylphosphatidylethanolamine) and of a second monolayer of DOPC (dioleoylphosphatidylcholine) that were Langmuir-Blodgett deposited on mica. Using transfer ratio measurements and tapping mode atomic force microscopy experiments, we show that the subnanometric holes in the bilayers result from the desorption of lipids of the first monolayer during the transfer of the second monolayer. We present a new simple technique based on the quantitative analysis of these holes that allows determination of the adsorption energy of amphiphilic molecules on solid surfaces. This technique is valid for relatively low adsorption energies in the range 1 to 10 k(B)T.