# What You'll Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 cup powdered sugar
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
→ Wet Ingredients
04 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 1 teaspoon almond extract
06 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ Add-ins & Toppings
07 - 1/2 cup dried cherries, chopped
08 - 2 tablespoons sliced almonds (for dough), plus 1/3 cup sliced almonds (for topping)
09 - 1 tablespoon coarse sugar, optional for sprinkling
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9-inch round cake pan or line it with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, powdered sugar, and salt by whisking until evenly blended.
03 - In a large bowl, beat the softened butter with almond and vanilla extracts until the mixture is smooth and fluffy, approximately 2 minutes.
04 - Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and stir gently at low speed or by hand until a soft dough forms.
05 - Fold the chopped dried cherries and 2 tablespoons of sliced almonds into the dough evenly.
06 - Press the dough uniformly into the prepared pan, smoothing the surface with a spatula or fingers.
07 - Score the dough lightly into 8 wedges without cutting through completely, then sprinkle with the remaining sliced almonds and coarse sugar if using.
08 - Bake for 22 to 25 minutes until edges turn golden and the center is set.
09 - Remove from oven and cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Re-score the wedges fully and separate them. Allow to cool completely before serving.
