Creating a Homemade Cherry Pie involves a series of straightforward steps. Follow these instructions to bake your pie to perfection:

1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) to ensure it’s hot enough for baking.
2. Prepare the Filling: In a large bowl, combine the pitted cherries, granulated sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, vanilla extract, almond extract, and salt. Toss gently to coat the cherries evenly.
3. Prepare the Crust: Roll out one pie crust and fit it into a 9-inch pie pan. Trim any excess dough hanging over the edges.
4. Fill the Pie: Pour the cherry filling into the prepared crust, spreading it evenly. Dot the filling with small pieces of butter for added richness.
5. Cover with Second Crust: Roll out the second pie crust and place it over the cherry filling. Trim, fold, and crimp the edges to seal the pie. Make several slits in the top crust to allow steam to escape.
6. Brush with Milk: Brush the top crust lightly with milk to promote a golden-brown finish while baking.
7. Bake: Place the pie in the preheated oven and bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the filling is bubbly.
8. Cool: Remove the pie from the oven and allow it to cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing. This helps the filling set up properly.

These steps will guide you in creating an incredible Homemade Cherry Pie that will delight everyone at your table.