Cherry Crisp

Instructions

1. Prepare the oven
   Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x9-inch baking dish or 2-quart casserole dish.
2. Prepare the cherry filling
   In a large bowl, combine the cherries, granulated sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, almond extract, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Toss gently until cherries are evenly coated. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread evenly.
3. Make the crisp topping
   In a medium bowl, combine the rolled oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Add the cold cubed butter and use a pastry cutter or your fingers to work the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized pieces of butter throughout.
4. Assemble the crisp
   Sprinkle the oat topping evenly over the cherry filling, covering it completely. Press down lightly to create a somewhat compact layer.
5. Bake the crisp
   Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the cherry filling is bubbling around the edges. If the topping browns too quickly, cover loosely with aluminum foil.
6. Cool and serve
   Remove from the oven and let cool for at least 15 minutes before serving. The crisp is delicious warm, at room temperature, or cold. Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream if desired.