Cranberry bread

This simple cranberry bread recipe is the perfect dessert for any occasion. The bread is so soft it melts in your mouth, and the cranberries inside add extra texture. The recipe is made without oil and also without sugar – instead we'll use xylitol, a completely natural sweetener made from birch.

In appearance xylitol is very similar to sugar, but nutritionally it is much healthier. It has a low glycaemic index, which means it doesn't raise blood sugar after eating, so it is also suitable for diabetics. It has no aftertaste, unlike stevia and erythritol, for example. Unlike other sweeteners it doesn't harm the teeth, quite the opposite – the positive effects of xylitol on the health of gums and teeth are proven (which is why you'll often find it in toothpastes, chewing gums and mouthwashes). It is also not calorie-free like artificial sweeteners, but it contains 40% fewer calories than regular sugar. It is obtained from the bark of birch trees, but don't worry, no trees need to be felled or harmed in any way. Xylitol is the closest thing to sugar that is at the same time not sugar and is also not suitable food for yeasts – which means it is an excellent sugar substitute for anyone with candida problems.