Easter wouldn’t be the same without dying Easter eggs, but you may be surprised to know you don’t need to spend money on artificial Easter egg dye. Instead, you can make your own, homemade organic Easter egg dye using ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen such as spices, vegetables and fruits. (Who knew!)

Step #1: Prep Your Easter Eggs
Store-bought eggs are ready to hard-boil as soon as you bring them home from the grocery store, but if you purchase eggs fresh from a local farmer, wait at least one week before dying them. Fresh eggs haven’t absorbed enough air to create an air pocket inside the egg, which will make the egg near impossible to peel for consumption later on.
 

Step #2: Choose Your Organic Easter Egg Colors
Many spices and foods make great colors for organic Easter egg dyes. However, it’s important to note natural and organic Easter egg dyes will take longer to dye than their synthetic counterparts. Make sure you leave yourself an ample amount of time to make your one of a kind creations. Here is a list of some common colors as well as the foods and spices used to make them:

• Gold and/or Dark Yellow - Yellow Onion Skins or Yellow Apple Peels
• Bright Yellow - Turmeric Powder or Cumin
• Pink and/or Red - Red Beets
• Lavender - Red Onion Skins
• Blue - Frozen Blueberries
• Light Green - Green Apple Peels
• Dark Green - Spinach
• Purple - Purple Grape Juice or Blackberries
• Tan and/or Brown - Coffee
• Orange - Chili Powder
• Pink - Raspberries
• Looking for even more colors? Check out this list from Better Homes and Gardens.

Note: A good rule of thumb to follow when creating organic Easter egg dye is if it is brightly colored and stains your fingers and cutting board, then chances are it will also dye your Easter egg shells too! Worried about dying your hands or fingers? Use a pair of gloves!
 

Step #3: Make Your Organic Easter Egg Dye
Now that you have chosen your organic ingredients, it’s time to make your organic Easter egg dye.

• If you are using a fruit or vegetable, you will need (4) cups of said fruit or vegetable chopped and/or mashed. If you are using a spice, you will need (4) tablespoons of that particular spice.
• Boil each ingredient on its own in (4) cups of water. Be sure to use less water if you are using a food item with a larger water content like spinach for instance.
• Add (2) tablespoons of white vinegar to the water and let simmer for about 30 minutes. Remember to boil each ingredient separately in its own pot so you don’t mix colors together!
• After 30 minutes strain out the bits of fruit and vegetables that are left behind from boiling and toss them in your compost pile or garbage.
• Voila! The remaining liquid is what you will use for your organic Easter egg dye.

Step #4: Create Fun Designs
Using basic household items such as rubber bands, a white crayon or an old beeswax candle, make designs on your Easter eggs. Rubber bands make great lines while the wax from a white crayon or beeswax candle won’t dye, ultimately giving you the ability to create fun, springtime designs.
 

Step #5 : It’s Time to Dye!
​​​​​​​Soak the hard boiled eggs in the organic Easter egg dyes overnight. Remember, organic and natural Easter egg dye takes longer to penetrate the egg shell than synthetic dyes. Colors will vary from batch to batch, but remember to have fun with it. They don’t have to be perfect, which is what makes them each uniquely beautiful!

Bonus: Naturally dyed eggs will have a matte finish, but if you want them to shine, apply a few drops of olive oil using a soft cloth.