Make stunning naturally-dyed Easter eggs with vibrant colours
Purple cabbage, red beets and onion skins yield moody and mesmerizing hues
As Easter approaches, it's time for the annual tradition of dyeing eggs. This year, why not try a more natural approach? Using ingredients like purple cabbage, red beets and onion skins can yield rich and vibrant colours like peacock blue, maroon, golden amber and brick red.
For an extra twist, try gently cracking the eggshells before dyeing them to create even more stunning textures and colours. This method produces really unique Easter eggs that are striking both inside and outside the shell.
Ingredients
- 24 hard-boiled eggs (a mix of white and brown), at room temperature
- 3 cups chopped purple cabbage + 3 cups water (yields blue hues)
- 3 cups shredded beets + 3 cups water (yields maroon and deep blush tones)
- 3 cups red onion skins + 3 cups water (yields brick red/brown)
- 3 cups yellow onion skins + 3 cups water (yields golden amber)
- 3 tbsp white vinegar per 3 cups of water
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil (optional)
Instructions
How to boil eggs:
Place eggs in a pot in a single layer and fill with water, covering the eggs by about 2 inches, and bring to a boil.
Remove from heat, cover with a lid, and allow to sit for 10-12 minutes.
Transfer eggs to ice water to cool.
Dyeing the eggs:
For each vegetable dye, bring the vegetable and water mixture to a boil. Then lower the heat and simmer for 25 minutes.
Strain the liquid through a fine-mesh sieve into a heatproof bowl and let cool to room temperature.
Add 3 tablespoons of vinegar to each vegetable dye and pour each dye into a mason jar.
Gently crack the shells of 6 eggs without breaking them (optional) and add them to a jar of dyed liquid. Repeat for the remaining jars. The cracks will form creative textures and hues on the eggshells.
Refrigerate the eggs overnight in the dye for the most interesting hues and patterns.
Remove the eggs from the dyed liquid and allow them to dry for about an hour on a cooling rack.
For a glossy look, rub a drop or two of vegetable oil on each egg and polish with a paper towel.
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