How to Dye Your Easter Eggs With Natural Dyes

Last Updated on June 6, 2023 by Ellen Christian

Check out these ways to dye Easter eggs with natural dyes.  Learn how to make alternative Easter egg dyes from vegetables and flowers.

Once you know how to dye your Easter eggs with natural dyes, you will be able to eat your hard-boiled eggs without worrying about artificial food dyes.

The traditional Easter egg kits use synthetic dyes. And, although they are approved by the FDA for food use, there are still concerns about their link to things like ADHD and cancer. 

Dye Easter Eggs With Natural Dyes

I’m also concerned that the food dye tablets include sodium lauryl sulfate. This has been linked to all sorts of health concerns.

While only a small amount of the dye ends up on the portion of the egg you eat, it’s enough of a concern that I prefer to use natural dyes instead.

Using natural dyes for your Easter eggs really isn’t difficult and can create unique colors that you may not have thought of before.

Can I use brown eggs for Easter eggs?

Using white eggs will give you a  truer color but you can certainly use these natural dyes with brown eggs too. The colors just won’t be the same.

How to store Easter eggs

Many people like to display their dyed Easter eggs in a basket for the holiday, but eggs should be refrigerated after being hard-boiled because hard boiling eggs remove the protective coating that helps keep out bacteria.

Refrigerate them promptly and use them within one week from the date they are hard-boiled.

What is the best way to color Easter eggs?

If you want to dye your Easter eggs with natural dyes, hard boil the eggs by placing the eggs in cold water in a pot and heating to boiling. Turn off the heat and leave the eggs in the pot, covered for 20-30 minutes.

Cool the eggs with cold water. Place the eggs in one or more of these solutions overnight to dye them naturally.

Ways to dye Easter eggs

This is what you can use to dye your Easter eggs with natural dyes.

• Light Orange – Add one tablespoon of paprika powder to one cup of boiling water and two teaspoons of white vinegar. (shown above front center) 

• Light Pink – Place the eggs in a pan with a can of sliced beets and bring to a boil with a teaspoon of vinegar. Simmer for ten minutes and remove the beats leaving the eggs in the beet juice. (shown above back center)

• Light Blue – Add the eggs to a cup of blueberries and two cups of boiling water with one teaspoon of vinegar. Simmer for ten minutes and remove the blueberries leaving the eggs in the blueberry juice. (shown above left and right)

• Vintage Brown – Add a teaspoon of vinegar to a cup of strong hot coffee.

• Purple – Add the eggs to a cup of grape juice with a teaspoon of vinegar. This is one of the easiest colors to use to dye your Easter eggs with natural dyes.

• Yellow – Add the eggs to a cup of boiling water, a teaspoon of vinegar and a tablespoon of turmeric.

• Light Green – Place the eggs in a cup of boiling water, a teaspoon of vinegar and a tablespoon of matcha green tea powder.

Now that you know how to dye Easter eggs with natural dyes, which color do you want to try first? You may want to try my easy Easter Bunny candy holder DIY.

Related Reading

Finally, for more creative Easter and spring ideas, visit a few of my favorite bloggers:

• How to Marble Easter Eggs With This Nail Polish Hack by The Socialite’s Closet

• Easter Coloring and Puzzle Fun for Kids by Day by Day in Our World

• Easter Basket Cake by Kids Fun Reviewed

• Rustic Easter Wreath by sweet lil you

• Make Your Own Spring Sunshine Essential Oil Perfume by Style on Main

• How to decoupage plastic eggs

• How to make scrambled eggs

• Green milk tea recipe