I seem to recall my mother saying that Gram made these every year at Christmas. They certainly look like they would be delicious! My mother grew up in Erie, PA and around Christmas time, it was probably pretty cold in the kitchen over night so leaving the dough to set out would not be a problem. I think it’s safe to say you can adapt that to “refrigerate” and leave it at that. Cream of tartar is something I haven’t worked with since I was in grade school when I think we made a volcano or something like that. :-)
Butterscotch Cookies
1 c shortening
2 c sugar (brown)
2 eggs
1 tsp soda
1 tsp cream of tartar
1 cup nuts
3 1/2 – 4 c flour
1 tsp vanilla
Salt
Cream shortening & sugar, add eggs & vanilla. Mix well. Add cream of tartar & soda to flour, sift and mix. Add nuts. Roll in loaves and let stand overnight. Cut in slices and bake in hot oven.
This makes between 4 and 5 dozen cookies, but you can keep the loaves in the ice box almost indefinitely and bake them up as you need them.