Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease a 10-inch shallow cake or pizza pan with butter.

To make the topping, combine the cheese, sugar and egg in a bowl, beating well with a fork. Stir in the ground ginger and set aside.

To make the dough, sift together the flour and cocoa into another bowl. Add the butter and rub it in your fingertips until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Make a well in the center and pour in 1/3 cup of the milk. Mix well with a round-bladed knife, adding the remaining milk if necessary to mix to a soft dough (add the milk gradually until you reach the right dough consistency).

Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured counter and knead lightly. Roll out lightly to a 10 ¼-inch round and lift into the pan, pressing it against the sides and evenly over the base.

Sprinkle half of the almonds over the pizza base, add the cheese mixture, and bake for 15 minutes. Put the cherries, if using, on top of the cheese mixture, sprinkle with the remaining almonds, and return to the oven for 10-15 minutes more. Serve hot or cold.

Enjoy!