Dye Easter Eggs Naturally

Make this year’s Easter egg hunt egg-stra special with colorful eggs you dyed naturally. You don’t need expensive artificial dye kits when you can color eggs with things you probably already have in your pantry. Fresh vegetables like beets, cabbage, and spinach can be turned into a dye. Onion skins and colorful spices like turmeric and chili powder are great for dyes, as are fruit juices like grape juice or blueberry juice.

The colors may vary a bit depending on whether you start with white or brown eggs, but here’s a list of some colors you can create.

• 
  Purple = Shredded Beets
• Rust/Orange = Yellow Onion Skins
• Yellow = Ground Turmeric or Cumin
• Orange = Ground Chili Powder
• Sky Blue = Shredded Red Cabbage
• Green = Chopped Spinach
• Blue = Grape Juice
• Royal Blue = Blueberry Juice
• Lavender = Hibiscus Tea

Ingredients

The basic formula for creating the dyes is as follows:

• Use 1 Cup of vegetables/onion skins per cup of water
• Use 3 Tablespoons of spice per cup of water
• Use 2 Cups of tea/juice

You’ll also need the following:

• Hard-boiled Eggs, cooled to room temperature
• White Vinegar
• Neutral Oil like vegetable oil or grapeseed oil

Making the Dye

1. 
   To create dyes with vegetables or spices, add your ingredients to the water and bring them to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 15 to 30 minutes until you reach the desired depth of color. (Skip this step for juice or tea.)
2. Remove from the heat and strain the dye through a fine mesh strainer. Cool to room temperature.
3. Add 1 Tablespoon of white vinegar to each 1 cup of dye
4. Pour the dye over the eggs, ensuring they are completely submerged. Soak in the refrigerator until the color is as desired, usually overnight.
5. Dry the eggs and rub them with a small amount of oil to make them shine.

For more vibrant colors, you may want to do multiple dips in the dyes, being sure to dry the eggs between dips. For a dozen colored eggs, you will probably need about 4 cups of dye.

Using natural ingredients to dye Easter eggs is a fun and eco-friendly way to celebrate the spring season. You can experiment with different colors and patterns, and enjoy the beauty of nature's bounty. Plus, you can avoid the chemicals and artificial dyes that are often found in store-bought kits. Whether you use onion skins, beet juice, turmeric, or blueberries, you can create stunning Easter eggs that will impress your family and friends. So grab some eggs, some pots, and some natural ingredients, and start dyeing!