My Favorite, Unbeatable Holiday Pies

Ingredients

• 1 box refrigerated pie crusts (2 crusts)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
• 16 ounces cream cheese (2 blocks)
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 can cherry pie filling
• 1 egg white, beaten
• 3/4 cup butter, melted
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup cocoa powder
• 1 Tablespoon light corn syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1 9-inch deep-dish pie crust
• for salted caramel:
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/3 cup heavy cream
• 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• 1/2 teaspoon table salt
• for topping: about 2 cups pecan halves
• coarse kosher salt or flaky salt