Preheat oven to 350F/18-C. Spray a 9" cake pan with baking spray and line the bottom with a parchment paper circle cut to fit.
Reserve about a 1/2 cup of the cherries, and quarter the rest. Cut the reserved 1/2 cup of cherries in half and set aside for the top of the cake.
Using a stand mixer or hand mixer, cream the butter, sugar and salt until light and fluffy.
Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition, then the vanilla and almond extracts.
Combine the baking powder and sifted flour in a small bowl, then gradually add the flour mixture to the creamed butter alternately with the sour cream, beginning and ending with the flour. Scrape the bowl a few times in between additions and mix just until everything comes together being careful not to over-mix. Then gently fold in the quartered cherries.
Spread the batter into the prepared pan. Place the reserved, halved cherries on top. I like them faced down, but arrange them however you like. Sprinkle the top of the cake with the 3 tbsps of sugar.
Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, then sprinkle the sliced pistachios on top. Continue baking for another 25-30 minutes until a wooden toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Let the cake cool completely in the pan, then serve.
*Other fruits like strawberries, peaches, berries, or apples would work well in this cake.
*I used fresh fruit.
*Sliced almonds would also be nice on top or no nuts at all if preferred.
*I used sweet cherries here, but next time will also try tart for variation.
*It's easiest to leave the cake in the pan and serve from there, but if you'd rather place it on a pretty plate, I suggest slicing a small piece then using a cake server or spatula to help use that space to carefully take the cake out of the pan.