Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure even baking.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the unsalted butter, light brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes).
Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Then mix in the vanilla extract and almond extract, if using, until smooth.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until just combined; avoid overmixing.
Fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips, chopped pistachios, and dried cherries evenly using a spatula.
Drop rounded balls of dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing about 2 inches apart.
Bake for 10-12 minutes or until edges are lightly golden; centers may look slightly underbaked.
Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely.