Amaretti Cherry Cheesecake Pie

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups crushed amaretti cookies or biscotti (7.5 oz. amaretti or 5 oz. biscotti)
• 1/4 cup ground toasted almonds
• 1/3 cup butter, melted
• 1 8 ounce package reduced fat cream cheese (Neufchatel), softened
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup whipping cream
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
• 1/4 cup half and half or whole milk
• 3 cups fresh or frozen tart red cherries
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1/4 cup cherry juice or 3 tablespoons cherry juice and 1 tablespoon amaretto
• 1/4 cup toasted sliced almonds

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees . In a medium bowl combine crushed cookies, ground almonds and melted butter. Press onto bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch pie plate. Bake 7 to 8 minutes or until edges are golden. Cool on a wire rack.
2. In a large mixing bowl beat cream cheese with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Beat in brown sugar, and almond extract until fluffy. In a chilled mixing bowl, beat whipping cream to soft peaks; fold into cream cheese mixture. Turn into prepare crust.
3. Meanwhile, pit fresh cherries or allow frozen cherries to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. In a medium saucepan combine granulated sugar and cornstarch. Add cherries, and cherry juice. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly; cook 1 minute more. Cool and spoon atop pie. Cover and chill. Just before serving, top with sliced almonds.