How to Naturally Dye Easter Eggs
By: Laura Reefer
This post inspired by an article for Backwoods Home magazine
Dyeing Easter eggs brings back memories of gathering around the kitchen table. Sleeves rolled up, cups and bowls scattered everywhere. Everyone is eagerly trying to make the prettiest Easter eggs. There are many store-bought kits available now. But it’s easy to forget that folks used what they already had available to naturally dye Easter eggs. They did this long before those kits appeared on the shelves.
For hundreds of years, humans have been making paints and dyeing fabrics from plants and insects. Many clothes today use harsh chemicals using acids and bleach. Chemical dyes are brighter and last longer, but they are not good for the environment or for us.
Dyeing Easter Eggs
If you have never tried naturally dyeing eggs, do not let it intimidate you. It is easy to make a color bath for your boiled eggs. This creates a fun little project that your kiddos will love. You do not need anything fancy. In fact, you probably have most of what you need sitting in your pantry, refrigerator, or spice cabinet. Simple ingredients that can turn plain eggs into beautiful works of art.
What I love most about naturally dyed eggs is that no two ever come out exactly the same. Some are soft and speckled, some are deep and rich, and some have a muted old-fashioned look that just feels like spring on the farm. Just simple, pretty, and a whole lot of fun to make.
Why Try Natural Egg Dye?
You do not need a store-bought kit to make pretty Easter eggs. A lot of the ingredients needed for natural egg dye are probably already in your kitchen. Common foods and spices can create soft, beautiful colors the old-fashioned way. A splash of white vinegar usually helps the color show up better.
Natural dyes also give eggs a softer, earthy look that you just can’t get from the boxed kits. The colors are not always neon bright, but they have a charm all their own. They look lovely piled in a basket, tucked into a centerpiece, or set out on the table for Easter supper. If you have children or grandchildren helping, it can be a great learning experience. Show them that beautiful things do not always come in a package. Sometimes the best results come from simple ingredients and a little patience.
What You Need
You can make some beautifully colored Easter eggs using natural, non-toxic resources. Some are everyday kitchen ingredients, while others come from fruits, vegetables, or flowers. You do not need much to get started.
- Hard-boiled eggs
- White vinegar
- Water
- Small pots or saucepans
- Strainer
- Bowls or jars for soaking the eggs
- Natural dye ingredients
Tip: You can use white eggs for brighter, clearer colors or brown eggs for deeper, moodier shades. Both are pretty, just in different ways
Natural Ingredients Used to Dye Eggs
Here are a few common ingredients that work well:
Yellow
- Turmeric makes a beautiful sunny yellow. This one is one of the easiest and gives strong color fast.
- Marigolds range from yellow to golden shades.
Blue
- Red cabbage may not look like much in the pot, but it can give eggs a lovely blue shade.
- Blueberries can make a pretty soft blue to purple-gray egg, or a dusty lavender. Depending on how long you allow the egg to sit.
- Violets can produce pale blue or lavender tints.
Pink
- Beets can create a soft pink color, though it often comes out lighter than people expect.
- Strawberries can be used to tint eggs. It will give them a very light pink or blush color.
- Hibiscus for pink to purple tones
- Rose petals are very light pink, though often faint.
Orange or Rust
- Yellow onion skins can make warm golden or rusty shades.
Red-Brown
- Red onion skins can create deeper reddish or maroon tones.
Tan or Brown
- Coffee or tea can dye eggs soft brown shades that look very natural and rustic
What You Will Need
- Saucepan
- Bowls or jars
- Strainer
- Hard Boiled Eggs
- Vinegar
- Natural items you wish to use for coloring
- paper towels
How to Make the Dye (Dry Ingredients)
The process is simple:
- Place your dye ingredient in a saucepan.
- Add about 2 cups of water.
- Bring it to a boil.
- Lower the heat and simmer for 15 to 30 minutes.
- Strain the liquid into a bowl or jar.
- Stir in 1 tablespoon of white vinegar.
Once the dye is ready, gently place your eggs into the liquid.
How to Make the Dye (berries)
What you will need.
- 1 to 2 cups blueberries or strawberries, fresh or frozen
- 2 cups water
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Small saucepan
- Bowl or jar
- Strainer
Steps
- Put the berries and water in a saucepan.
- Bring it to a boil.
- Lower the heat and let it simmer about 15 to 20 minutes.
- Mash the blueberries a little with a spoon to help release more color.
- Strain the liquid into a bowl or jar.
- Stir in 1 tablespoon of white vinegar.
- Gently place your hard-boiled eggs into the dye.
How to Make the Dye (flowers)
Flowers do not always give strong color the way onion skins, turmeric, beets, or cabbage do. Some flowers may leave only a faint tint, while others can surprise you with a pretty pastel shade.
- Add a good handful of petals or dried flowers to a saucepan.
- Cover with about 2 cups of water.
- Simmer 20 to 30 minutes.
- Strain the liquid.
- Stir in 1 tablespoon of white vinegar.
- Soak hard-boiled eggs in the dye.
For deeper color, let the eggs sit in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight.
How long to Soak Your Eggs
Soak for 30 minutes for a very light tint. Let them sit in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight for a deeper blush color.
The color can be controlled by the time limit you leave them in the dye.
You can use white eggs for brighter, clearer colors or brown eggs for deeper, moodier shades. Both are pretty, just in different ways
A Few Fun Extras
If you want to dress them up a little, you can try a few simple tricks:
Wrap onion skins or small herbs around the egg and secure with cheesecloth before dyeing for a patterned look. Use a white crayon to draw on the shell before soaking. Rub dried eggs with a tiny bit of cooking oil for a soft shine.
Naturally dyed Easter eggs have a simple beauty. They are lovely tucked into a basket, displayed in a bowl, or used at your Easter meal. More than anything, they make sweet memories with the people you love.
Comment, let me hear how you dye your Easter Eggs.
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