Instead of coloring your Easter eggs the same color you've seen year after year, do something more unique dating from the medieval kitchen. Naturally dyed eggs are so elegant they can grace the table at an adult dinner party, but it's the kids who most enjoy a project like this. Parents can preboil the eggs and let children experiment with bowls of cold dyes. For safety reasons, always have an adult around to supervise.
Important Notes:
1) Natural dyes create beautiful effects, but may NOT be suitable for eating. Use for decoration only.
2) We do not suggest dyeing eggs overnight. Some colorants may seep through the shell and make the egg unsafe to eat.
3) Always return eggs to refrigerator after dyeing.
Natural Ingredients for Dyeing Easter Eggs
For Red:
Boil 4 cups of red onion skins in a quart of water for 30 minutes. Cool to room temperature. Strain and dye as usual.
For Pale Red:
Boil 4 cups of fresh beets, cranberries or frozen raspberries in a quart of water for 30 minutes. Cool to room temperature. Strain and dye as usual.
For Pink:
Soak hard boiled eggs in cranberry juice or the juice from canned or pickled beets until desired color is reached.
For Blue:
Boil 4 cups shredded red cabbage in a quart of water for 30 minutes. Cool to room temperature. Strain and dye as usual. Also try soaking eggs in the juice from canned blueberries.
For Lavender:
Soak hard boiled eggs in grape juice.
For Yellow:
Add 1 1/2 tsp. turmeric and 1/2 tsp. vinegar to 1 cup hot water. Cool to room temperature and dye as usual.
For Light Yellow:
Boil 4 cups fresh shredded carrots in a quart of water. Cool to room temperature. Strain and dye as usual.
For Beige - Brown - Mocha:
Soak eggs in strong brewed coffee that has been cooled to room temperature. Or add 1 Tbsp. instant coffee and 1/2 tsp. vinegar to 1 cup of hot water. Cool and dye as usual.
For Pale Green - Green:
Soak eggs in liquid from canned spinach or boil 4 cups fresh spinach in a quart of water. Cool to room temperature. Strain and dye as usual.
For Green - Gold:
Boil 4 cups of Yellow Delicious apple peels in a quart of water. Cool to room temperature. Strain and dye as usual.
For Pastels:
Rub fresh or frozen (thawed) berries over hard boiled egg to achieve soft blue, pink and purple shades.
For Orange:
Dissolve 4 Tbsp. paprika in a quart of hot water. Cool to room temperature and dye as usual.
For Peach:
Boil 4 cups of yellow onion skins in a quart of water for 30 minutes. Cool to room temperature. Strain and dye as usual.
Dyeing Techniques
The cold-dipping method creates subtle, translucent shades, but may result in uneven color
The boiling technique involves boiling the eggs in the dye; as the egg heats and rolls in the boiling water, a more uniform and intense color is produced. To dye 8 eggs with the boiling technique, use 2 tablespoons of vinegar per quart of water. Place eggs in pot and cover with 1 inch of water. Add natural dye ingredients, bring to a rolling boil, and reduce to simmer for 20 to 30 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water.
Egg Dyeing Tips
1) Use only non-stick or glass cookware when boiling ingredients for egg dyes. This will prevent color-altering reactions with metallic pans.
2) Dry freshly dyed eggs in egg carton for 10 minutes before adding to display or Easter basket.
3) Always protect table and clothes from dye.
4) To shine eggs for display, rub eggs with vegetable oil. Then wipe off.
5) Add 2 Tbsp. vinegar to egg dye to help dye adhere to eggs.
Egg Design Ideas
Color eggs with wax crayons before dyeing. Write names or draw pictures. Dye will not adhere to wax.
Wrap hard boiled eggs in layers of rubber bands. Soak eggs in one color. Remove a few bands and dye again in another color. Continue until all the rubber bands are removed. You'll be left with a beautiful batik design.
Try placing various stickers on eggs before dyeing. Dry eggs for ten minutes. Remove stickers.
Submerge half an egg in one color of dye. Then turn egg upside-down and dye the other half in another color for a two-toned egg design.
Use white glue to attach bits of ribbon, bows or sequins to colored eggs. They can easily be removed when peeling egg.
