Prepare the Pie Crust: In a large bowl, whisk together 1 1/4 cups flour and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cut in the 1/2 cup cold butter until pea-sized crumbs form. Gradually add ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing until the dough just comes together. Do not overmix. Form into a disc, wrap in plastic, and chill for at least 30 minutes.

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled pie dough into a 12-inch circle. Carefully transfer it to a 9-inch pie plate. Trim and crimp the edges as desired. If you desire an extra crisp bottom crust, you can blind bake it for 10-15 minutes, then let cool.

Prepare the Cherry Filling: In a large bowl, combine the pitted cherries, 3/4 cup granulated sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, and almond extract (if using). Stir gently until the cherries are evenly coated. Pour the cherry filling into the prepared pie crust.

Prepare the Crumble Topping (The Golden Crunchy Secret!): In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the 1 cup flour, brown sugar, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, and ground cinnamon. Now for the secret to that golden crunch: Add the very cold cubed butter. Using your fingertips, a pastry blender, or two knives, quickly cut the butter into the dry ingredients. Work swiftly until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces of butter still visible. The key here is not to overmix; this is what prevents a pasty topping and ensures those distinct, golden, crunchy bits after baking. You can even gently squeeze a few crumbs together with your fingers to create larger clusters for varied texture.

Evenly sprinkle the prepared crumble topping over the cherry filling.

Place the pie on a baking sheet to catch any drips. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until the filling is bubbly and the crumble topping is deeply golden brown and crunchy. If the topping browns too quickly, you can loosely tent the pie with foil.

Let the pie cool completely on a wire rack for at least 2-3 hours before slicing and serving. This allows the filling to set properly. Enjoy your perfect, golden crunchy crumble pie!