Natural Dyes for Easter Eggs

Forget the Kit!  Use These Ingredients You Probably Have on Hand!

 

 

   Forget spending you money on those Easter Egg Dye Kits! Instead use some ingredients you most likely have around the house!  Here are natural dyes you can use to color your Easter eggs.

INGREDIENTS

For Fruits and Vegetables:

1 cup finely chopped fruit or vegetable

2 cups of water

1/4 cup white vinegar

For Spices:

4 to 5 tablespoons of ground spices

2 cups of water

1/4 cup white vinegar

For liquids like tea or juice:

do not add water

mix 1/4 cup vinegar into 2 cups of the liquid

For tea or coffee:

make the tea or coffee in 2 cups of water

let it cool, then

add 1/4 cup white vinegar

DIRECTIONS

To use these natural dyes, you do not boil the eggs first. Instead, to begin you will need to gently wash the eggs with soapy water and dry.

Place either the fruits or vegetables or the spices and the water in a saucepan and bring to a boil.

Simmer for 15 minutes(for spices) or 20 minutes (for fruits or veggies)

Remove from heat and strain through a fine-mesh sieve or colander 9or even a coffee filter), saving the liquid in a bowl.

Add the vinegar and stir until well combined.

Let cool to room temperature then dye your eggs.

The longer they sit in the dye, the deeper the color.

------------OR----------

Put a single layer of eggs in a non-metal pan and make sure they are covered with water.  Use 2 tablespoon white vinegar to 1 quart of water.

Then add whichever natural dye you choose to use from the list below.

Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, and remove pot from burner.

If you are happy with the color, dab eggs with a paper towel to remove excess dye, then place on rack to cool and dry.

If you want deeper color leave the eggs in the pot until cool. 

For even deeper shades, put the cool eggs in a bowl, strain the dye water then pour it over the eggs until covered.  Store the submerged eggs in the fridge for a couple of hours or overnight.

All boiled eggs should be stored in the fridge.  Do not eat eggs that have soaked in warm or hot water for several hours!

ALL NATURAL DYES

1.  Light Brown – Coffee, instant coffee, Black Tea, black walnut shells

2.  Blue - Blueberries, red cabbage leaves or purple grape juice

3.  Red – canned cherries, pomegranate juice, raspberries, lots of red onion skins

4.  Pink - Fresh Beet Juice, Cranberry Juice or cranberries, red grape juice

5.  Orange – Paprika, Chili Powder, carrots, yellow onion skins

6.  Greenish Yellow - Ground Tumeric or Yellow Delicious Apple peels

7.  Blue-grey or lavender color - Small Amount of Purple Grape Juice, Red Zinger Tea or blackberries

8.  Green - Spinach leaves or grass

9.  Violet Blue - Red Wine or Red Onion Skins

10.  Yellow – Orange or Lemon peels, Ground Cumin, Celery Seed, Green Tea, Chamomile Tea or carrot tops