No matter how your family celebrates spring, dyeing eggs is a great way to mark this time of year. This Easter, try dyeing your eggs naturally. Dyes in store-bought kits can cause stomach upset if swallowed, and natural dyes are very easy to make — if you can boil water, you’re all set! The following receipe uses ingredients you probably already have on hand in your kitchen. Have older kids help chop veggies; younger kids can add eggs to the water once it’s cooled and rub them with oil to make them shiny. Use this all-natural receipe to get hoppin' on creating beautiful, dyed eggs! 

Basic All-Natural Egg Dye Recipe

Each batch of water will make a different color dye.

1. Bring 4 cups of water to a rolling boil.
2. Add the all-natural coloring agent of your choice. (Choose from the list below.)
3. Reduce heat and simmer for at least 30 minutes. The longer you simmer the liquid, the deeper the color your eggs will be.
4. Strain liquid into a large glass jar, like a Mason jar, and allow to cool to room temperature — about 2-3 hours.
5. Stir in 4 tablespooons white vinegar. Add up to a dozen hard-boiled eggs.
6. Close the jar, and refrigerate for about 8 hours or overnight.
7. To make the eggs shiny, rub with a dab of vegetable oil.

Color Choices

Pink
2 cups peeled, grated beets

Orange
2 cups yellow onion skins

Yellow
1 tablespoon turmeric

Green or Blue
2 cups purple cabbage, shredded. (Cabbage will turn brown eggs green and white eggs blue!) OR 2 cups blueberries for blue eggs

 

Now, hide the eggs and let your kiddos hunt them down!