Step 1

Drain the cherries, separating the juice and the cherries. You should have 2 cups of cherries and well over a cup of juice. Measure out exactly 3/4 cup liquid (that’s all you’ll need).

Step 2

In a large saucepan (2-3 quarts), combine the sugar, cornstarch and salt. Add the 3/4 cup of cherry juice and stir until smooth. Place saucepan over medium heat and whisk or just stir until mixture boils, thickens and becomes translucent.

Step 3

Remove from the heat and stir in the drained 2 cups of cherries, almond extract, lemon juice and the butter (if using). Chill until ready to use.

Step 4

For sauce, you can leave out the butter, but if you are using the filling in cherry tarts or pies, the butter gives the filling a little more body.

Step 5

In a mixing bowl , mix together flour, sugar, and salt.

Step 6

Cut the butter into bits or grate it with a cheese grater and scatter it over the flour.

Step 7

With a pastry cutter or your fingers, mix until coarse.

Step 8

Add cold water a few tablespoons at a time and stir, pushing all dough toward the center, with a heavy duty scraper until dough holds together.

Step 9

Press into two tight balls (or one large one if making one large crostata), wrap in plastic and chill for at least half an hour or until ready to use.

Step 10

To make a small to medium size tart, set one section of dough on a floured surface. Let it sit at room temperature just until it is soft enough to roll.

Step 11

Roll into an 8 inch square and transfer to a parchment lined rimmed baking pan. Spread a thin layer of egg wash over the circle. Spoon about 1 cup of the cherry mixture in the center of the circle, leaving about a 2 inch border. Bring borders of circle up and over the edge of the perimeter of the cherries so that the crust covers just part of the cherries and pinch the edges. It will look like a square, but the edges will probably come apart a little during baking.

Step 12

Brush crust with more egg wash and sprinkle with sugar if desired. Bake at 425 degrees F for about 20 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool for 30 minutes to an hour before serving.