How to dye Easter eggs naturally

Easter is around the corner and we do not have dyed Easter eggs to eat on Easter Sunday! What kind of Easter would that be? So I thought, I could do it myself since we had plenty of eggs in the house and also natural dye. I let my husband know about my adventure and he said that he always enjoyed dying eggs as a child, so I waited for him to come home. We had a blast doing it.

How to start

We started by boiling eggs first, make sure to use white not brown, for about 10 minutes and then used ice water to cool them.  The ice water should make them easier to peel when they go from decoration to delicious snack.

How to make the natural dye

Last week I used turmeric root and my fingers were yellow for 2 days, so I thought that would be perfect as a natural dye.  Then I thought what else I used in the past that seemed to leave a lingering dye.   So my husband and I looked through our spice cabinet and pantry, and we found it; black rice, beets, and turmeric. 

The more dye agents you are using the darker and more brilliant the dye going to be. For spices, place a handful or two in the saucepan, add tap water, to about one inch above the dye agent. It comes to about a cup of water for each handful of spices.

Next, bring the water to a boil, and then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for about 15-20 minutes depending on how bright the color your trying to achieve.  Be aware as the eggs dry the color may lighten a bit.

Remove each mixture from the stove and pour your into separate bowls. Be sure to have a good understanding of the amount of dye you created, because you need to add vinegar accordingly.  For each cup of dye you need to add 2.5 teaspoons of white vinegar.

I always liked dyed eggs with a design, so here’s a great natural way to add one to them.  All you need is old stockings, some leaves or feathers and rubber bands.  Place the hard-boiled egg in the stockings and place the design on the egg then tie the ends together. Now, you will have a nice design on your egg.

 Use a slotted spoon to lower the stocking wrapped egg in the still warm dye. Leave the egg in the dye longer for darker colors and shorter for lighter colors.

When you think your egg has the right color, lift the egg out of the container using the slotted spoon. Let it dry on a rack, once dried take the egg out the panty hose and “et voilà” you have beautiful naturally dyed and decorated Easter egg.