Black Forest Cherry Torte

1/2 tsp almond extract
1 can (21 ounces) cherry pie filling
4 eggs, separated
1 tsp vanilla
¾ cup sugar, divided
½ cup unsifted all purpose flour
1/3 cup Hershey’s Cocoa
½ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
1/3 cup water
1 TBS sugar
3 cups sweetened whipped cream
Sliced almonds

Stir almond extract into pie filling; chill. Line a 15 ½ x 10 ½ x 1 inch jelly foll pan with aluminum foil; grease foil. Beat egg yolks with vanilla 2 minutes on medium speed. Gradually add ½ cup sugar; continue beating 2 minutes. Combine flour, cocoa, ¼ cup sugar, baking soda and salt; add to egg yolk mixture alternately with water on low speed. Beat egg whites with 1 Tbs. sugar until stiff peaks form; carefully fold into chocolate mixture. Spread evenly in prepared pan; bake at 375 for 14 to 16 minutes or until top springs back when lightly touched in center. Invert onto cooling rack; remove foil. Cool. Cut cake crosswise into 4 equal rectangles 3 ¾ x 10 inches. Spread one layer with ½ cup sweetened whipped cream; top with second layer. Spoon ½ cherry filling in center to within ½-inch of edge; pipe edge with cream. Top with third layer; spread with ½ cup cream. Top with fourth layer; spoon remaining cherry filling to within ½ inch of edge. Frost sides with whipped cream. Pipe top edge. Pat almonds into frosting. Chill.