Place frozen or fresh cherries in a medium-sized saucepan.
Sprinkle with 1/2 cup sugar, 4 tbsp corn starch, 1 tbsp lemon juice, and 1 tsp almond extract and stir well.
Turn on heat to medium and cook the cherries until they begin to boil and the juices start to thicken, then turn off the heat and set aside to cool a little while you make the pie crust.
Make a vegan pie crust (or use a pre-made vegan pie crust)
Measure 1 1/2 cup flour, 3/4 tsp salt, 3/4 tsp baking powder in a bowl.
Add 1/2 cup oil and 3 tbsp boiling water and mix until a firm dough is formed.
Roll the dough between 2 pieces of parchment paper.
Place the dough on the bottom of the pie dish, then fill the dish with the cherry pie filling.
If making a lattice top: Roll out the second piece and cut into strips about 1 inch wide to use for your lattice. (Or use the crumble topping instead.)
Fold up the excess piecrust on the sides and crimp the sides with your fingers or press with a fork to make a pretty pattern.
Bake the pie at 375° F (190° C) for 45 minutes.
Allow it to cool for at least 3 hours before cutting.
Make the crumble topping
If you want an easier top crust with more texture, add a simple crumble topping.
Mix together 1/4 cup vegan butter, 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 cup oats, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/2 tsp cinnamon,1/8 tsp nutmeg, 1/8 tsp baking powder, and a dash of nutmeg with a pastry mixer or the back of a fork.
Work the mixture together until crumbles start to form and the dry ingredients are incorporated in with the butter. It will take a few minutes for crumbles to form.
Sprinkle the mixture over your pie, and bake at 375° F (190° C) for 45 minutes until the top is golden brown.
Allow it to cool for at least 3 hours before cutting.
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Notes
Allow your pie to cool for at least 3-4 hours before slicing and serving. You need to let it cool enough for the pie filling to firm up and stay together when you serve it.
If you use sour cherries, omit the lemon juice, and add up to twice as much sugar until the desired taste is achieved.
If you don't want to fuss with a lattice top, you can use a solid layer of pie crust on top or simply use the crumb topping.