Easter Egg Decorating Ideas

One of the most colorful parts of the Easter holiday is the tradition of dying hard boiled eggs. This year, you can dye eggs naturally by making your own food coloring. It’s easy to do with foods you’ve probably already got stocked in your fridge or pantry. It’s a fun way to enjoy DIY, charmingly authentic-looking springtime decorations, with no artificial ingredients.

Choosing & Boiling Your Eggs

First, you’ll need to hard boil some eggs, following these instructions. If you use white eggs, the colors might appear brighter, but brown eggs might have more of that rustic, all-natural vibe.

The whole process takes just about 30 minutes, so you’ll want to plan ahead before you start the dyeing process. Once they’ve boiled, you need to be sure to transfer your cooked eggs to a bowl of ice water to cool. You can dry them on a clean dish towel until you’re ready to dye.

Natural Dye Ingredients for Eggs

Now it’s time to bring in the natural color, and there are plenty of great ways to do so. Fruits and vegetables are often brightly colored, and you can harness that natural food coloring potential to make DIY Easter egg dye that’s kid-approved and eco-friendly. It will be easy to rustle up peels, scraps and other food items that are probably already in your kitchen. Here are some common choices and the colors they create:

• Yellow – turmeric, chamomile tea
• Orange – paprika, yellow onion
• Blue – red cabbage, blueberries
• Green – matcha, blueberry, turmeric
• Purple – red wine, blackberries
• Pink – beets, raspberries

If you’re making these dyes with kids, encourage them to think about other items that might make a good dye, and conduct your own scientific experiments to see how they turn out in your “kitchen lab.”

Time to Dye Your Eggs

When you’re ready to dye your Easter eggs, all colors are made in essentially the same way:

First, add shredded or mashed solid scraps, skins, liquids or spices to boiling water. Once the mixture has steeped, strained and cooled, it’s ready to use as a natural dye. When the dye mixture is at room temperature, you can add vinegar to make sure the colors are truly vibrant.

Let the eggs sit in the dye until you’ve achieved the color you want. They should start to take on a pretty good color within 20-30 minutes. If you want a really intense look, transfer the eggs, in the dye, to the refrigerator for an overnight soak.

Finishing Your Easter Egg Coloring

Once you’ve achieved the look you want, let the damp eggs rest on a wire rack set over a cookie sheet or cutting board. When they’re dry, massage a little vegetable or olive oil onto the surface of each Easter egg, and polish with a soft cloth or paper towel. Be sure to keep your eggs refrigerated until you’re ready to use them.

Whether they’re part of a one-of-kind centerpiece for Easter brunch, special surprises in Easter baskets, or featured at your annual Easter egg hunt, you’ll have plenty of fun natural color for the season.

For even more fun Easter celebration ideas, check out these suggestions and more recipe ideas.