Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius (350 Fahrenheit).
To make the crust, beat the soften butter with the sugar for 1-2 minutes using an electric mixer - you should have a light, fluffy texture.
Add the almond extract, flour and salt, and use you hands to rub all the ingredients together until you get crumbs.
Use half of the crumbs to add to a pie or quiche dish - pressing the crumbs down and up the sides well to create a uniform crust.
Cover the crust with kitchen foil, and fill the dish with baking beans or dry pulses.
Bake for 10-15 minutes, remove the foil and beans, and bake for a further 10 minutes until the crust is golden.
In a large bowl, mix the pitted cherries with the sugar and cornflour, then add them to the baked crust.
Scatter the remaining crumbs all over the cherries, and bake for a further 20-25 minutes until the top with golden.
Allow the pie with cool before slicing it.
Serve it with custard, cream or just on its own.