Instructions: In a bowl, mix 2 cups of the flour wiht 1 tablespoon of the sugar and the salt. Add the cold butter and cut it in briefly using a pastry blender. Add the water and stir just until the dough begins to come together.

Gather up the dough and transfer it to a lightly floured surface. Knead briefly until it forms a smooth, cohesive mass. Pat the dough into a disk, wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before rolling out.

Mix the almonds with the remaining 1 tablespoon flour and 1 tablespoon of the sugar.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Ona lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to a 15" round; transfer to a baking sheet. Sprinkle the almond mixture all over the dough to within 1 1/2 inches of the edge. Arrange the cherries on top. Fold the edge of teh dough up and over the fruit.

Brush the melted butter over the pastry border and sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar over the whole crostata. Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour, or until the crostata is deeply browned. Let cool on a rack for 10 minutes. Dip a brush into the crostata and glaze the cherries with some of their juices.

Serve warm.

If you would like to email yourself the recipe for later use, or share the recipe with your friends or family, enter the email addresses below and this recipe will be emailed to you and others as well.