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Dyeing Easter Eggs

Article by: Allrecipes  |  Picture by: Allrecipes
Dyeing Easter Eggs
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If you want to try and ease up on the chocolate consumption this Easter, and add some craft fun into the mix, try dyeing hard boiled eggs. Check out our suggestions for dyes and techniques.
Before You Start
Cover a table with a plastic sheet and/or layers of newspaper. This is messy creative fun.
Use empty egg cartons as drying racks. Keep paper towels handy to blot off any dye that pools underneath the eggs.
Do not use your best favourite pot if boiling eggs in colour..
Using Already Boiled Eggs
The simplest way to dye eggs is to use food colouring. For colourfast egg dyes, mix 7-8 drops of food coloring into 1 cup of hot water. Stir in 1/4 cup vinegar.
Dip the already boiled eggs into this solution and let them soak for a few minutes or hours till you like the colour.
Boiling the Eggs and the Colouring Together
Put uncooked eggs in a pot of cold, strained dye water and bring to the boil for 10-20 minutes depending on the shade you desire.
Homemade Dyes
To make your own natural dyes, boil ingredients in water (approx two cups of ingredients to 2 cups water) with a tablespoon of vinegar until desired shade is reached. Strain to remove solids. If using powdered spices – add 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons per cup.
  • For Yellow, use: Yellow onion skins, ground turmeric
  • Orange: Same as yellow, with added beetroot juice
  • Red: boiled beetroots, paprika
  • Blue: red cabbage
  • Green: Spinach and/or kale
  • Brown: Strong brewed coffee or tea (don't dilute)
    • Different Effects
    For marbleised, swirly egg colours, coat eggs with a base color and let dry. Mix canola or other light cooking oil into another colour of dye (1 teaspoon oil per cup of dye) and quickly dunk the eggs. The oil will repel color in some places and the dye will adhere in others, creating a marbled effect.

    For interesting marbleised patterns and shades of yellow, orange or brown, wrap raw eggs in onion skins and secure with rubber bands or string. Boil the eggs for 5-10 minutes (the longer they boil the more intense the colours) until hard boiled.

    For a simple tie-dyed effect, wrap a paper towel around the egg and twist. Place an empty bowl underneath the egg to catch dye drippings or do this over the sink. Pour spoonfuls of different coloured of dye over the egg. Make sure each colour saturates the paper towel. When you've added the colours you want, remove the paper towel.
    To Finish
    Rub completely dry eggs with a little oil on a paper towel if you'd like a slightly shiny finish.

    Remember you can use a mix of techniques, hot or cold dyeing and types of dyes. Expect to experiment a bit to get the results you want.
    Article provided by:
    Allrecipes

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    • Review: AliceC

      I did this activity once with a small group of kids at after-school. Honestly, after all the boiling, Im not sure I'd eat them:-) but it is definitely a great way to get an Easter activity going that doesnt involve chocolate! plus they get a decoration or two to take home:-0
      Posted: 15 Feb 2011 Moderately easy
      • AliceC
      • Beginner
      • Sunshine, Australia

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