How to Dye Easter Eggs with Natural Colors
The Easter season has begun! What else can you do with the kids at home except keep them busy with
coloring Easter printables solving
cool Easter puzzles, and
dyeing festive Easter eggs? Here’s a twist to that classic
Easter activity that will make it a cool bonding activity for the entire family! Dye the same old
Easter eggs but this time with natural colors to make your Easter an ‘EGG’-citing adventure! Here’s how –
Natural colors on Easter eggs!
"Easter Eggs" by JoshBerglund19 is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Make the natural dyes–
You will need –
4 cups chopped red cabbage (for reds, maroons, and pinks)
3 tbsp turmeric (for yellow and golden)
Red onion skins from 12 onions (for light pinks)
4 cups of chopped beetroot (for bright reds)
1 lbs strong black coffee (for browns and taupe)
Vinegar
A Large Pot
A Strainer
Directions –
For each color group listed above, place the dyeing agent in the pot.
Add a liter of water and 2 tbsp of vinegar. If you add more water, increase the amount of vinegar too.
Bring to a boil, then lower heat. Allow the mixture to simmer for 30 minutes.
Strain dye into a bowl and your dyes are ready.
Also, here is a quick color guide for producing that desired color on your Easter eggs -
Deep gold: Boil eggs in turmeric dye for 30 minutes.
Bright sienna: Boil eggs in onion-skin dye for 30 minutes.
Coffee brown: Boil eggs in coffee dye for 30 minutes.
Yellow ochre: Soak eggs in room-temperature turmeric dye for 30 minutes.
Bright orange: Soak eggs in room-temperature onion-skin dye for 30 minutes.
Taupe: Soak eggs in room-temperature coffee dye for 30 minutes.
Light fuchsia: Soak eggs in room-temperature beetroot dye for 30 minutes.
Sky blue: Soak eggs in room-temperature cabbage dye for 30 minutes.
Royal blue: Soak eggs in room-temperature cabbage dye overnight.
Mauve: Soak eggs in room-temperature beetroot dye for 30 minutes. Follow with room-temperature cabbage dye for 30 seconds.
Dye the eggs –
Dying eggs is fun!
"eggs" by shannonpatrick17 is licensed under CC BY 2.0
You have to choose between the cold-dye and the hot-dye methods to dye Easter eggs. The cold-dye method produces lighter and subtle hues while the hot-dye method will give you more vibrant colors.
Cold-dye method –
Lower cooled boiled eggs into the pot with the dye. Keep it for two hours. If you want a little brighter shade, but not as bright as the hot-dye method, soak the egg for another couple of hours.
Remove the eggs and let them dry on a wire rack.
Rotate the eggs diligently while in the dye.
Hot-dye method –
This method might not be simpler than the cold-dye method but it definitely produces more vivid colors.
Boil the eggs in the dyes. The dyes will saturate the shells and help spreading a more uniform color. Cool and dye the same way as the cold-dye method, on a rack.
Happy Easter!
