How to Dye Your Easter Eggs

Lifestyle

Want rustic-looking colorful eggs for your statement centerpiece or that family Easter egg hunt? We’re here to tell you none of the dye kits out there will give you the shades you want. Substitute the trip to the arts & crafts store with a trip to your pantry and pull out the natural ingredients listed below to achieve the homely aesthetic you’re going for.

Ingredients:
4 cups beets – for red and dark pink shades
4 cups yellow onion skins – for orange shades
3 tbsp Turmeric – for yellow shades
4 cups Purple Cabbage – for baby blue shades or green shades (Brown eggs will turn green and white eggs will turn blue)
4 cups Blueberries – for a marbled blue shade
3 bags of strongly brewed hibiscus – for green
1 cup of red wine – for purple
1-2 tbsp white vinegar
2 cups of water or enough to cover the ingredient of your choice by at least an inch
Hard-boiled eggs
Your favorite oil for luster

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Instructions on how to boil eggs:

Add the eggs to a medium pot and cover them with cold water. Bring the water to a hard boil, then turn off the heat and cover the pot. After 10 minutes, place the eggs in a bowl of cold water and let them sit until they’re cool to the touch. To remove the natural oils on the eggshell that prohibit the dye from adhering effectively, drain the bowl and replace the water with warm, soapy water. Gently rub the eggs with a washcloth or your thumb.

Instructions on how to dye the eggs:

Bring water to boil in a medium pot together with the dye ingredients for the egg color of your choice. Lower the heat and let simmer for 30-60 minutes until the desired color is reached. Keep in mind that the eggs will be several shades lighter than the dye, so it’s best to go for deeper hues. Remove the egg dye from heat and let cool in room temperature. Strain the dye to remove any food fragments. Add the hard-boiled eggs to the strained dye and let soak in a jar until the desired color is reached. We recommend infusing the eggs for 30 minutes for softer shades and overnight for richer hues. Scoop up the eggs and let them air dry. Once dry rub them with your favorite oil for luster.

Use your colorful eggs to guide your guests to their seats. Use a thin-pipped marker to write your guests' names on the eggs.
Here's how we chose to decorate our Easter table with our colorful eggs. Add some green shrubs for a rustic centerpiece.