Forget to get an egg coloring kit this year? here are a few ideas that you can use to make your own colored eggsfrom things you have at home.
This year instead of using a coloring kit from the grocery store, why not use some natural dyes. Here are some ideas. Usually, the more of the natural ingredient you use and the longer the egg soaks (maybe even overnight) the darker the color will be.
Natural Egg Food Coloring
REMEMBER: Not all of these eggs will be safe to eat. Do not eat eggs that sit in hot water for many hours or overnight. Save those for decorations.
Red
Save the skins from red onions and boil with the eggs
for 1/2 to 1 hour. Remember the more skins you use and the
longer you soak the darker the color will be. A smaller amount
of skins will produce a nice lavender.
Pink
Soak your hardboiled eggs in cranberry juice or the juice
from pickled beets.
Violet Blue
Soak your hardboiled eggs overnight in hot water to which
you have added violet blossoms.
Lavender
Soak your hardboiled eggs in grape juice, or, add 2 teaspoons
of lemon juice to the Violet Blue water to lighten the color.
Yellow
To a cup of hot water, add 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons of tumeric
and 1/2 teaspoon vinegar.
Golden Tan
Save the skins from yellow onions. Add them to the water when
you hardboil your eggs.
Brown
To a cup of hot water, add 1 Tablespoon of instant coffee, and
1/2 teaspoon vinegar.
Green
Add 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda to a bowl of the water from
Violet Blue before soaking your eggs. You can also soak your eggs
in liquid chlorophyll. (Buy it at the pet store or drug store.)
Pretty Pastels
You can rub blueberries and cranberries right on the shells for
soft blues and pink. Blend them for another pretty result.
You can also use Household items to Make these beautiful Colored Eggs
- Eggs (hard boiled)
- Food coloring
- Vinegar
- Cooking oil
- Containers for the dye mixture (mugs will work)
- Paper towels
- A few spoons
- In each container combine one tablespoon of each of the following: oil, vinegar, and your choice of food coloring.
- Add enough water to make the liquid deep enough to cover an egg.
- Swirl the liquid with a spoon, and quickly lower and raise an egg into it.
- Pat dry with a paper towel, and repeat with a second color.
- Swirl into a third color, if desired. Some white areas can be left on the egg.
- Gently pat dry the completed egg, leaving a bit of the oil to give the egg a varnished look.
Kathy says
Why can’t I post this to facebook?
Liz E. says
You should be able to copy paste the URL to your facebook page, and the article will show up.