DIY Natural Egg Dye

5 from 1 vote

This natural DIY egg dye is such a fun science project for kids and adults alike! Grab some food items from around the kitchen and have fun!

Prep Time30

Total Time30

Course: Crafts

Cuisine: American

Servings: dyed eggs

Author: Cassy Joy Garcia

To the saucepan, add 4 cups of water over high heat.
To the water, add your natural ingredient (beets, yellow onion peel, frozen blueberries, or purple cabbage) and bring the water to a boil.
Turn the heat down to low and simmer for 30 minutes, or until the dye has reached the desired color you’re looking for (you want it to be a couple shades darker than the color you want your eggs). The longer you leave it to simmer, the richer the color.
Once your dye has reached the desired depth of color, remove from the heat and let cool (for about 20 minutes). Then pour the cooled dye over the fine-mesh strainer into the mason jars.
Stir in 2 TBSP of vinegar into the strained dye.
Repeat steps 1-4 for each of the natural dye ingredients.
Gently place your hard-boiled eggs into each mason jar (about 2 per jar).
Transfer your eggs in the dye to the fridge and let them chill until your desired color is reached (at least 30 minutes, up to 24 hours for the richest color result).
Remove your eggs from the natural dye to a paper towel lined dish and dry them off.
Store your dyed eggs in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Tips and Tricks:

Save your scraps - this is a great way to utilize food scraps! Save them leading up to dying your eggs and see what colors you come up with while simultaneously repurposing the waste!
Use white eggs - for the most vibrant colors (though brown eggs will result in a really rich tone).
Use old towels - or a layer of newspaper and wear older clothes when dying eggs in case you get any of the dyes on the counter or your clothing–they are dyes after all and will stain!
Leave the eggs longer - for the most bright and vibrant colors, allow the eggs to sit in the dye overnight. You can also try dipping them multiple times to create layers of colors.
Use a rubber band or tape - to make stripes or designs on the eggs.
Let your eggs dry - when you remove them from the dye, let them dry completely. For an extra shine, rub them with a little oil once dry.
Have fun! - this is what it’s all about anyway, right?! Have fun with the process!

Here's our perfect hard-boiled eggs recipe for reference!