There is no need to buy artificial food dye to color hard-boiled eggs this Easter. Here are some creative and organic ways to color easter eggs naturally with common ingredients found in your refrigerator and kitchen pantry cabinet — whether your favorite color is yellow, pink, blue or green!
Yellow/Orange
Start by boiling a quart of water and two tablespoons of white vinegar in a medium saucepan on the stovetop. Stir in three tablespoons of turmeric from your spice drawer, reduce the heat, and simmer for 30 minutes. Cool the water at room temperature (about two to three hours) before dying your eggs, or try this trick from A Tasty Adventure. You’ll need red and yellow onion skins for color, plus a pair of nylons and fresh herbs to make a pretty pattern. For detailed instructions with photos of Onion Dyed Easter Eggs, click here.
Pink/Red
Again, start by adding a quart of water and two tablespoons of white vinegar to a medium saucepan. While you are waiting for the water to boil on the stovetop, chop two large beets and add them to the pot. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer, and let the beets soak for at least 30 minutes or until you achieve your desired color. Strain out the beets and begin coloring your eggs. Remember, the longer your eggs sit in the liquid, the deeper the hue.
Blue/Purple
Finely shred a large red cabbage (about a pound) with a chef’s knife, and add it to a medium saucepan. Top the shredded cabbage with a quart of water (or grape juice for deeper color). Add two tablespoons of white vinegar and a tablespoon of salt. Bring the saucepan to a boil on the stovetop over medium heat. Reduce the heat, cover the pot with a lid, and simmer for 30 minutes. Strain the cabbage and cool the liquid before dying. Blue takes a little more time to achieve than other colors, so be patient.
Green
Boil a quart of water with six cups of fresh spinach leaves. Stir in two tablespoons of white vinegar and let the water simmer on the stovetop until you achieve a deep shade of green. Strain out the spinach and allow the water to cool completely before dipping your eggs. Like blue, green can be tricky. When in doubt, add the dye to covered mason jars and soak your eggs overnight in the refrigerator.
When using natural dyes, it’s best to wear disposable gloves to avoid staining your hands. Whether you set up your egg dying station at the kitchen table or on the countertop of your kitchen island, be sure to cover the surface with a plastic tablecloth or kitchen towels for easy cleanup.
Welcome to Willow Lane Cabinetry — the #1 place to buy affordable, semi-custom cabinets online! Let us help you create the kitchen, home office, home bar, laundry room, TV room or bath of your dreams with our 100% free room design tool. We offer all wood cabinetry, fully assembled and delivered for free, plus all the accessories needed to complete your remodel. Visit our website to see our products today!
