How to Make Organic Easter Egg Dyes

Dying Easter Eggs is an enjoyable part of springtime festivities. Here's how to avoid questionable artificial ingredients and make your own organic Easter egg dyes.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Free-range organic eggs
• Organic Vinegar
• Organic fruits, vegetables, spices and other ingredients as specified to obtain desired colors

1. 
   Use free-range organic eggs

   Hard cook eggs with one tablespoon vinegar in water. Place dying ingredients in aluminum pans with water and boil for at least five minutes to release the pigments. Crush and stir to release the colors and make enough for one cup of each, starting with at least two cups of water. Strain dyes before adding eggs. Most dyes should be used hot, although the temperature of the eggs doesn't matter. After mixtures are somewhat darker than your desired color add eggs and allow to remain until the wanted effect is achieved. Some take longer than others, up to one hour. Have fun experimenting!

2. 
   Boil celery leaves

   YELLOW Use organic yellow onion skins, turmeric/curry or celery leaves. Add 1 tsp. white vinegar.

3. 
   Boil red cabbage

   BLUE Use organic blueberries or red cabbage. Add 1 tsp. white vinegar.

4. 
   Boil spinach

   GREEN Use organic spinach, kale or parsley. Add 1 tsp. white vinegar.

5. 
   Boil rose hips

   RED Use organic rose hips tea or pomegranate juice. Add 1 tsp. white vinegar.

6. 
   Boi blackl tea bags

   BROWN Use organic coffee grounds or black tea bags. Add 1 tsp. white vinegar.

7. 
   Boil beets or use juice

   PINK Use fresh organic beets or cranberry juice. Add 1 tsp. white vinegar.

Tips & Warnings

• These natural dyes may be slightly more pale than the bright artificial dyes traditionally used.
• Experiment with quantities and double dip eggs to create more colors. To get orange for example, dip a yellow egg into red dye.
• Have fun making your healthy, natural, organic Easter eggs!

Resources

• Read More Articles by Michelle Starkey
• History of the Easter Egg
• Easter Trivia
• eHow Spring Guide

[sabrinacareer]

on 4/23/2009 This is awesome info on natural dyes. :)

[Rachellewms]

on 4/12/2009 I'm really impressed with the knowledge you have given to me in this article. I never even thought about organic Easter egg dye...Thanks so much for posting this. 5*

[AlishaV]

on 4/12/2009 Natural dyes are so fun and are a great way to be creative.

[GreenMomma]

on 4/8/2009 What wonderful ideas! I can't wait to make beautiful organic Easter eggs!!!

[joanhaines]

on 4/4/2009 Hurray! I have used yellow onion skins to get a fine shade of orange-yellow. I thought beets would work. Thanks for confirming that. Organic Easter egg dyes are cool!