Why opt for the canned stuff when you can make homemade cranberry sauce? Using just five ingredients, this super simple cranberry sauce recipe is free from refined sugar, and beats the store-bought version any day! Whether you're making it for a classic American Thanksgiving menu, Christmas dinner, or just a regular meal, this refined sugar-free, low-carb cranberry sauce is absolutely delicious. You can enjoy it with meatballs as an appetizer, or over chicken for an easy weeknight dinner. You can even blend it with extra-virgin olive oil for a salad dressing. Health benefits Cranberries are incredibly antioxidant-rich and full of phytonutrients. Phytonutrients can raise the overall antioxidant capacity in our bloodstream, which can help reduce the risk of oxidative stress. They're high in vitamin C, vitamin A, and vitamin K. The nutrients in cranberries have been linked to a lower risk of urinary tract infections, a common issue that mainly occurs among women and affects the bladder and urethra. Cranberries have also been shown to boost the immune system and help decrease blood pressure. The secret ingredient You may be scratching your head and wondering what sort of natural sweeteners are good options for your homemade cranberry sauce. Enter: dates! Dates are not only delicious thanks to their natural sugars, but are super nutritious as well. They have a low glycemic index, which is a measure of how quickly your blood sugar rises after eating a certain food. While they're not common in low carb recipes or low-calorie diets (since dried fruit is usually off limits), they contain a large amount of dietary fiber. Fiber is important for digestive health, as well as for controlling blood sugar. Just half a cup of dates provides about 14 percent of the daily value for potassium, 8 percent for magnesium, and 10 percent for manganese. The apple cider also acts a natural sweetener in this recipe, which still leaves you with a recipe without any processed sugar. Read Less