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easter eggs colored with natural dyes and imprinted with flowers and leaves
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Naturally Dyed Easter Eggs

Prep Time1 hour 30 minutes
Waiting Time1 day
Keyword: easter, easter eggs, natural dye, seasonal crafts, springtime
Author: Sara Borgeson

Equipment

  • small pots
  • cheesecloth or nylon stockings
  • scissors
  • fine mesh strainer
  • small rubber bands
  • dish soap

Materials

  • 2 cups purple cabbage (chopped)
  • 2 cups onion skins (red or yellow or both)
  • 3-4 avocado pits and/or skins (see notes)
  • 2 cups spinach
  • 1/8 cup turmeric powder
  • 6 black tea bags
  • white vinegar
  • coconut oil or olive oil

Instructions

  • First, wash the eggs thoroughly with dish soap, scrubbing gently. This ensures that there are no residues or oils on the eggs which could prevent the shells from retaining the dye.
  • You can either hard boil your eggs first, then place them in the dye, OR put raw eggs into the dye and blow them out afterward to keep long term for decor. Here is a handy tool we've used to blow eggs.
  • Next, Prepare your dye bath. You can start with as many or as few colors as you want or have available to play with. Add the dye material of your choice to a small saucepan and cover with 3 cups of water.
  • Heat on low and gently simmer for about an hour. Allow to cool for 1/2 an hour.
  • To prepare your eggs, carefully place flowers and leaves against the egg, wrap with a small square of nylon mesh or cheesecloth, and secure the nylon/cheesecloth with a small rubber band.
  • If you are using daisies, be careful that the petals are spread out, and gently press the center against the egg. I’ve found that it helps if either the egg is slightly damp from condensation, or I will wet it slightly, enough to help the petals stay in place while I’m wrapping the egg.
  • When the dye bath is ready, strain the liquid into a mason jar and place your prepared eggs into the jar. Add 1 tbsp white vinegar per cup of dye. Place in the refrigerator for 12 – 24 hours, depending on the color you are trying to achieve.
  • Remove from the dye and gently cut off the nylon/cheesecloth, handling the egg as little as possible. Or you can let it fully dry before removing the nylon/cheesecloth. This is because the damp pigment on the egg can sometimes scrape off in places, but once you leave it to fully dry it doesn’t do this.
  • If desired, gently buff the eggs with coconut oil or another oil to make them shine. Arrange them in a pretty platter, or hang them from branches in a vase for a pretty Easter tree.
  • Have fun experimenting and trying other color combinations, as well as other plants or flowers! Have you found another flower that will lend it's own color? I'd love to hear.

Notes

Notes on avocado dye:
Personally, I am comfortable with using my normal kitchen pots and utensils for all of these food dyes *except* for avocado dye. Avocado pits contain strong tannins, and I prefer to err on the side of caution and use a pot that I keep specifically for dye projects and not for our food. But I will leave you to do your own research and make your own choice as to whether you feel safe using your regular cooking pots for this.
Avocado dye will take longer to prepare than the others in this list. You get the best color from avocado pits by very gently heating and easing the color out over several hours. This tends to give a better pink/peach rather than rushing it and heating it faster which tends to make it a more brown shade. Gently heat for a couple hours, then turn off heat and let it sit for a couple more hours or overnight. 
Avocado dye is very fun to play with. I have dyed wool yarn, cotton shirts, and other small projects with it. So, consider preparing a larger pot and trying another fun project at the same time as your Easter eggs.