Naturally-Dyed Easter Eggs

May 28

This Easter have a laugh with your kids or grandkids. Colour your Easter Eggs with safe and low cost items from your kitchen.

Sounds fun.

It is!

But wait, why do people even want to dye eggs at Easter?

The egg itself became a symbol of the Resurrection. Just as Jesus rose from the tomb, the egg symbolized new life emerging from the eggshell. In the Orthodox tradition, eggs are painted red to symbolize the blood that Jesus shed on the cross. The egg-coloring tradition has continued even in modern secular nations. - Britannica

This tradition dates back to the 13the century. Nobles would exchange them as gifts and villagers would give eggs to their church on Good Friday. - Chatwan Mongkol

They say that the egg is the perfect food, a complete protein and full of nutrients and EFA’s.

It has stood the test of time.

Just like Jesus.

How to dye your eggs with food.

This was my first attempt at dyeing eggs naturally, and I only wanted to use items that I considered safe for my family to eat.

Eggs will absorb the chemical dyes and I will not eat that.

You will need:

Eggs - white and brown both work.
Vinegar
Dye materials: approximately 1 cup of each and two cups water.
- Onion skins - White eggs dye orange and brown eggs dark red.
- Blueberries (frozen are great) - indigo.
- Shredded beet- white eggs pink and brown eggs maroon.
- coffee - light brown.
- Tumeric - 2 Tbsp - Yellow.
- Red cabbage- white eggs blue and brown eggs green.
- Avocado skins and pits - white eggs brown orange.

Method:

In a small to medium sauce pan I added the dye materials and water and simmered for 20 Minutes.
Cool and strain.
Add Vinegar
Add pre-boiled eggs to dye, leave in overnight to deepen colour.
Remove eggs and dry on a drying rack.

Techniques:

Full immersion
Place the egg in a dye and weigh it down so it doesn’t pop up in liquid.
You could mix dyes to make a new colour.
Botanical -Use herbs to create leaf marks on eggs. ( I used a coffee filter, I think cheese cloth would work better)
You place the herb on the egg and you secure it tightly with cheese cloth, panty hose, coffee filter. (anything that will let the dye through easily)
Place egg in dye. You could always try boiling and uncooked egg directly in the dye for 15 minutes. (This method may work better than the one I tried.)
Parsley leaf looked neat.
Wax Crayon- I like this one!
Draw on your egg with non-toxic white crayon.
Place in dye.
The kids are super excited to see their artwork come to life.
Ombre
Place an egg up right in a small jar. To keep it up right I used a piece of lego, or a bottle cap will work.
Add dye 1/3 way up the egg, an hour or so later repeat the process until the desired colours are achieved.
Tape -I didn’t try the tape method
You place tape on the egg and can create designs.
Peal off tape once coloured and dried.
Whipping Cream - I used yogurt (it didn’t work), I will try whipping cream next time.
Fill a container with whipping cream drizzle the natural dye over the cream. Use only two or three colours and swirl just a little bit.
Submerge eggs in vinegar for 2 minutes before dyeing them. Roll eggs in cream and let them sit overnight in fridge.