easter eggs natural dyeIn pre-Christian cultures, the egg was symbolic of the universe and the annual rebirth of the earth from the barren part of the year into the fruitful seasons. With the advent of Christianity, the egg became symbolic of man’s rebirth, when the Christians likened the egg to the rebirth of Christ.

Natural Dyes for Easter Eggs

Natural dyes for Easter eggs yield beautiful results. Dyeing eggs is fun for parents and kids alike, and you’ll be surprised at the colors you can get from nature. Here’s a list of natural ingredients and the colors they make.

  • Red onion skins: soft lavender to red, depending on how long they
 boil or how many you use
  • Red cabbage leaves: robin’s-egg blue
  • Beet juice or cranberry juice:  shades of pink
  • Dill seeds: brown/gold
  • Grape juice: lavender
  • Strong coffee: shades of brown
  • Yellow onion leaves, turmeric, orange and lemon peels, cumin, carrot tops: yellow
  • Paprika: orange
  • Spinach: green
  • Yellow Delicious apple peels: green/gold
  • Blueberries: blue
  • Grass: green

To dye edible eggs you’ll need:

  • White vinegar
  • Eggs
  • Water
  • Your choice of natural dye item from the list

Directions:

  1. Hard-boil the eggs. If you use store-bought eggs, wash them first with mild dish soap so they’ll hold the color better. Store eggs have a coating of oil that farm eggs do not. But if you skip this step, it will still work.
  2. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of vinegar and your natural ingredients to a quart of 
water. With a solid, like spinach, use up to 4 cups. For spices, use about 4 tablespoons. Bring to a boil and simmer for 30 minutes. Let cool, then strain.
  3. Dip the hard-boiled eggs into the dye. The longer they’re in, the more colorful they’ll be. Turn the eggs periodically so the color will be even.
  4. Let eggs dry in egg cartons. Refrigerate eggs you intend to eat.