Natural Easter Egg Dye Ingredients

The color tablets that you drop into vinegar water to dye Easter eggs contain harmful chemicals that could have a bad effect on some kids. Even though we don’t eat the shells, but eggshells are permeable and some kids are so sensitive, and claims have been made that artificial dyes cause serious side effects, such as hyperactivity in children, as well as cancer and allergies.

Our kitchen is full of natural dyes. Common food items such as red cabbage, onion skins, and coffee can be used to transform plain white eggs into colorful Easter eggs.

Homemade Easter-Egg Dye Recipes:

Select a dye, place it in a pot using the amount listed below. Add 1 liter water and 2 tablespoons white vinegar to pot; if more water is necessary to cover ingredients, proportionally increase the amount of vinegar. Bring to a boil, then lower heat. Allow the ingredients to simmer for 30 minutes. Strain dye into a bowl.

• Red-cabbage dye: 4 cups chopped cabbage
• Turmeric dye: 3 tablespoons turmeric
• Onion-skin dye: 4 cups onion skins (skins of about 12 onions)
• Beet dye: 4 cups chopped beets
• Coffee dye: 1 quart strong black coffee (instead of water)

Color Glossary

Natural dyes can sometimes produce unexpected results, so don’t be surprised if, for example, your red-cabbage dye yields blue eggs. Use the following guide to help you achieve the colors you desire.

• Deep Gold: Boil eggs in turmeric solution, 30 minutes.
• Yellow-Brown: Boil eggs in onion-skin solution, 30 minutes.
• Dark, Rich Brown: Boil eggs in black coffee, 30 minutes.
• Pale Yellow: Soak eggs in room-temperature turmeric solution, 30 minutes.
• Orange: Soak eggs in room-temperature onion-skin solution, 30 minutes.
• Light Brown: Soak eggs in room-temperature black coffee, 30 minutes.
• Light Pink: Soak eggs in room-temperature beet solution, 30 minutes.
• Light Blue: Soak eggs in room-temperature cabbage solution, 30 minutes.
• Royal Blue: Soak eggs in room-temperature cabbage solution overnight.
• Lavender: Soak eggs in room-temperature beet solution, 30 minutes. Follow with room-temperature cabbage solution, 30 seconds.
• Yellow-Green: Soak eggs in room-temperature turmeric solution, 30 minutes. Follow with room-temperature cabbage solution, 5 seconds.