How to Make 9 Natural Easter Egg Dyes

Dyeing Easter eggs is a beloved tradition and one of the most fun Easter crafts to share with kids of all ages. But, if you're turned off by the chemicals in store-bought Easter egg dye, try these nine natural options. Each features a coloring agent — a vegetable, fruit juice, or spice — that gives color to hard-boiled eggs.

Note that natural egg dyes aren't as vivid as chemical dyes, but their muted colors are part of their homemade charm.

Natural Egg Dyes

First, we'll take a quick look at the basic process for making any natural egg dye and show you the ingredients you'll use for nine different colors. After that, you can experiment with other fruits, vegetables, and spices to see what gorgeously natural colors you can create. The rule of thumb is, if it stains your hands, it'll dye your eggs.

There are two kinds of natural dyes: boiled and unboiled. Boiled dyes depend on the boiling process to extract color from the materials you're boiling. Unboiled dyes are juices and brewed coffee.

How to Make Boiled Natural Easter Egg Dyes

1. Bring 2 cups water to a rolling boil.
2. Add coloring agent.
3. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes or longer for the deepest color.
4. Strain liquid into a large mason jar, and allow to cool to room temperature, 2-3 hours.
5. Stir in 2 tablespoons white vinegar and add 3 hard-boiled eggs.
6. Seal the jar, and refrigerate overnight or until the egg is the desired color.
7. Rub dried eggs with a dab of vegetable oil to give them a shinier finish (optional).

Watch the video to see how to make natural Easter egg dyes.

Colors by Nature

Here are the materials you'll use to make natural Easter egg dyes.

1. Purple = 1½ cup shredded red beets

2. Rust = 7 yellow onion skins

3. Yellow = 3 tablespoons ground turmeric or cumin

4. Orange = 3 tablespoons chili powder

5. Sky Blue = 1½ cups shredded red cabbage

6. Green = 2 cups spinach

Natural Easter Egg Dyes: Unboiled

These final three options use undiluted liquids, so you can skip the boiled water step.

Directions

1. Strain liquid into a large mason jar.
2. Stir in 2 tablespoons white vinegar, and add 3 hard-boiled eggs.
3. Seal the jar, and refrigerate overnight or until the egg is the desired color.
4. Rub dried eggs with a dab of vegetable oil to give them a shinier finish (optional).

7. Blue = 2 cups grape juice

8. Royal Blue = 2 cups blueberry juice

9. Brown = 2 cups brewed coffee (color intensity depends on the coffee you use)

Now that you know how to make natural dyes with everyday kitchen ingredients, you can experiment with what's in your pantry.

Related

• How to Host an Easter Egg Hunt
• Get Recipes for Your Easter Celebrations

Food Stylist: Eliza Charbonneau / Photographer: Tiffany Gannon