How to Dye Your Easter Eggs Naturally

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Ahh… the smell of vinegar in the morning. Nothing quite says DIY like dying Easter eggs. But why not fully embrace DIY and instead of relying on a store bought kit, make your own dyes using natural foods and flowers? Hop to it with these simple recipes:

BLUE-GRAY = Bluberries

Heat 1 cup blueberries in 1 cup water. Allow to simmer until water begins to change color. Remove blueberries and add 1 Tbsp vinegar. 

Leftover Love: Stash the blueberries in the fridge or freezer and use them for smoothies!

BLUE = Red Cabbage

Cut ¼ head of red cabbage into chunks and add to 4 cups boiling water. Add 2 Tbsp vinegar and let it cook to room temperature. Remove cabbage with a slotted spoon

Leftover Love: Make a quick sauerkraut by shredding leftover cabbage and combining with ½ cup apple cider vinegar, ½ cup water, 1 small thinly sliced onion, salt & pepper in a jar and allowing to sit for at least 45 min. It will keep for up to 2 weeks in the fridge

ORANGE = Onions

Simmer the skin of 6 yellow onions in 2 cups of water for 15 min then strain. Add 3 tsp white vinegar

RED-ORANGE = Paprika

Combine 2 Tbsp paprika with 1 cup boiling water and add 2 tsp white vinegar

RED = Pomegranate Juice

Mix 1 cup pomegranate juice with 1 Tbsp vinegar

BROWN = Coffee

Add 1 tbsp vinegar to 1 cup of strong coffee

PINK = Beets

Peel & cut 1 medium beet into chunks and add to 4 cups boiling water. Add 2 Tbsp vinegar and let it cool to room temperature. Remove beets.

Leftover Love: Enjoy the beets over a salad with a light vinaigrette

PURPLE = Grape Juice

Mix 1 cup grape juice with 1 Tbsp vinegar

YELLOW = Turmeric

Combine 2 Tbsp turmeric with 1 cup boiling water and add 2 tsp white vinegar

GREEN = Spinach

Boil a bunch of spinach in 2 cups water. Remove spinach and add 1 tsp vinegar

Leftover Love: Combine boiled spinach with boiled beets and top with salt, pepper and a little vinaigrette for a quick salad!

Tips for your eggs:

• The longer you soak the eggs, the more intense the colors
• Draw shapes of pictures on the eggs with crayons or a piece of wax before dying them. The wax won’t absorb the color so the designs will stay!
• Rubber bands are also a great way to add some decorations. Just use different sized rubber bands all around the egg and it will come out looking like tie-dye! Just remove the rubber bands after the eggs are dry.
• When you remove eggs from dye, dab them with a sponge to get a textured look
• Natural dyes give a matte finish (not glossy) so if you really want them to shine, rub them with a little oil.