Happy Easter week, everyone! I, like many of you, will be dyeing Easter eggs this week in anticipation of Easter Sunday. In an effort to use more natural ingredients in my everyday life, I began exploring natural dyeing as an alternative to store-bought kits. What started as simple curiosity has now become a cherished tradition in our family.
I’ve come to love the beautifully imperfect results with variations in color and the softness that natural ingredients create. These eggs take nearly a full day to complete, so be sure to set aside time for them to soak overnight!
Ingredients to Explore
Beets give soft pinks and deeper rose tones, while hibiscus tea leans toward a muted purple. Turmeric creates the brightest yellow—almost shockingly bold—and onion skins produce a warm, golden orange that feels especially traditional. One of the biggest surprises the first time I tried this was red cabbage, which somehow turns eggs a beautiful blue when you add vinegar. Blueberries create a gentle lavender shade, while coffee and black tea produce rich browns and soft tan hues that feel simple and rustic.
To Get Started
I begin by simmering whichever ingredient I’m using in water for about 20 to 30 minutes to extract the color. Then, I strain it into a jar and add a bit of vinegar to help the dye adhere. While that cools, I prepare hard-boiled eggs, making sure they’re clean and dry. White eggs tend to show the colors more clearly, but brown eggs can create deeper, moodier tones that I really love.
Let Soak
Once everything is ready, I place the eggs in the dye and let them sit overnight in the fridge for a richer color.
The Next Day
When I take them out, I dry them gently, so I don’t rub off the color. The results are never perfectly uniform, but that’s part of the charm. Some eggs come out speckled, others have uneven patches, and occasionally one turns a shade I didn’t expect at all.
Enjoy exploring your own natural ingredients in your pantry, but these are some of my favorite color combinations!
