How to Dye Easter Eggs Naturally Using Food and Kitchen Scraps

Astrid van Essen
20 hours ago
5 min read

Soft colours, zero waste, and a bit of kitchen magic

Every year, just as winter finally loosens its grip, I get the urge to clear out cupboards, open windows, and make something cheerful with my hands. Easter is the perfect excuse. This year, instead of buying dye kits, or food colouring, I decided to see what I already had at home, and it turns out your kitchen is basically a natural dye studio waiting to happen.

A moody, cinematic still life of naturally dyed Easter eggs with delicate botanical leaf prints, arranged loosely inside a shallow ceramic bowl and covered by a clear glass cloche. Eggs dyed in soft natural tones such as warm off-white, muted grey-blue, pale lavender and gentle beige, with organic leaf silhouettes visible on the shells. — How to Dye Easter Eggs Naturally Using Food and Kitchen Scraps

This "How to Dye Easter Eggs Naturally" is one of those projects that feels part science experiment, part slow living ritual. No plastic, no artificial colours, and no pressure for perfection. Just soft, earthy tones that feel right at home on a spring table.

Why Natural Egg Dye?

Apart from being more sustainable, natural dyes give you colours you simply can’t replicate with shop-bought kits. They’re muted, unpredictable, and beautifully imperfect, exactly what makes them special.

You’re also using things that might otherwise end up in the bin. Onion skins, tired vegetables, leftover spices. It’s resourceful, creative, and a nice reminder that decorating doesn’t have to mean buying more stuff.

What You’ll Need (Mostly Already in Your Kitchen)

You don’t need everything on this list—pick what you have.

flat lay of ingredients for natural Easter egg dye arranged in handmade ceramic bowls. Yellow Onion skins, red cabbage leaves, sliced beetroot, turmeric powder, spinach leaves, coffee grounds and loose black tea displayed in neutral stoneware bowls. White and brown eggs scattered gently around the bowls. Linen napkins, wooden spoons and a muted off-white background. — Ingredients to Dye Easter Eggs Naturally

Eggs

White eggs for lighter colours
Brown eggs for deeper, moodier tones

Natural dye ingredients

Onion skins (yellow or red)
Red cabbage
Beetroot (fresh or cooked)
Turmeric
Spinach or kale
Coffee grounds or strong black tea

Extras

Water
White vinegar
Saucepan
Fine sieve or cloth
Jars or bowls
A spoon and a bit of patience

Optional but lovely:

Old tights or muslin
Leaves, flowers or herbs for patterning

How to Make Natural Egg Dye

1. Prepare the dye baths

Roughly chop your chosen ingredients and place them in a saucepan. Cover generously with water and bring to a gentle simmer. Let it bubble away for 30–40 minutes - the longer it simmers, the richer the colour.

Strain the liquid into jars or bowls and add a splash of vinegar. This helps the colour adhere to the shell.

A close-up, cinematic view of white eggs gently floating in a wide, shallow pan filled with water and torn red cabbage leaves used for natural dyeing. the eggs have blueis purple coloured by the red cabbage. Soft blue-purple colour beginning to release into the water. — Dye Easter Eggs with Red Cabbage

2. Prepare the eggs

For an even colour, gently wash the eggs to remove any residue.If you prefer a more rustic look, don’t overthink it - tiny imperfections add character.

3. Dye the eggs

Lower the eggs carefully into the dye bath.

For pale tones: 10–30 minutes
For deeper colours: several hours or overnight (stored in the fridge)

Turn them occasionally, or leave them untouched for more organic colour variation.

4. Dry and admire

Lift the eggs out with a spoon and let them air-dry on a rack or kitchen paper. Avoid rubbing them while wet - the colour is delicate at this stage.

Once dry, you can lightly buff them with a drop of oil for a soft sheen, but I often leave them matte.

If you enjoy working with natural materials and slow, hands-on projects like this, you might also like my paper mâché Easter eggs. They’re made using simple household materials and finished in soft, neutral tones—perfect if you’re looking for a long-lasting, decorative alternative to real eggs. You can find the full tutorial in my blog post How to Make Neutral Paper Mâché Easter Eggs, which pairs beautifully with these naturally dyed eggs for spring styling.

How to Make Hollow Eggs (and Fill Them)

If you’d like to keep your dyed eggs for longer - or turn them into something a bit more playful - you can hollow them out before dyeing. It sounds fiddly, but it’s surprisingly simple and very satisfying once you’ve done one.

Option 1: Blow the Egg Out (Best for Decorative Eggs)

This is the easiest method if you want lightweight eggs for bowls, trays or place settings.

You’ll need

A raw egg
A pin or needle
A bowl

How to do it

Gently pierce a small hole in the top of the egg.
Make a slightly larger hole in the bottom.
Use the pin to break up the yolk inside.
Blow gently through the top hole until the contents come out.
Rinse the shell (a drop of vinegar helps) and let it dry completely.

Once dry, the shell is sturdier than you’d expect and ready to dye.

Option 2: Syringe or Turkey Baster (Cleaner and Controlled)

If you have a syringe, pipette or turkey baster, this method keeps things tidy.

Make one small hole in the egg.
Insert the syringe and draw out the contents.
Rinse and air-dry.

This works especially well if you want very discreet holes.

Dyeing Hollow Eggs: Helpful Tips

Hollow eggs tend to float, so gently hold them under the dye with a spoon or small ramekin.
Colours will be slightly lighter than on whole eggs—soft and delicate rather than bold.
Let them dry fully before handling or styling.

Fun Ideas for Filling Hollow Eggs

Once dyed, hollow eggs are perfect for decorating:

Dried flowers or baby’s breath
Moss or tiny sprigs of greenery
Rolled handwritten wishes
Feathers for a soft, natural look

Seal the opening with a dot of wax, air-dry clay, or a small ribbon detail.

What Colours Can You Expect?

Onion skins – warm amber, rust, golden browns
Red cabbage – pale blue to soft grey-blue
Beetroot – dusty pinks and muted reds
Turmeric – sunny yellow
Coffee or tea – warm taupe and stone tones

Every batch turns out slightly different, which is part of the charm.

a decorative natural bird’s nest made from mixed twigs, straw and dried grasses, resting inside a shallow handmade ceramic bowl. The nest contains naturally dyed Easter eggs coloured using beetroot and red cabbage, showing uneven, organic tones of dusty pink, muted burgundy, soft blue-grey and pale lavender. Eggshells vary slightly in size and shape, with matte, porous texture and subtle speckling. small natural white fluffy feathers are tucked into the nest

How to Style Naturally Dyed Eggs

Arrange them in a shallow bowl with linen or moss
Use them as relaxed place settings
Cluster them on a tray with candles and spring flowers
Pair with neutral ceramics or wooden boards

They look best mixed together rather than perfectly matched.

A Gentle Safety Note

Hollowed, dyed eggs are best kept decorative only once styled and displayed.If you plan to eat the eggs, stick to boiled eggs, refrigerate promptly, and label clearly.

Final Thoughts

This is one of those Easter projects that feels calm rather than crafty. No rush, no perfection, and no shopping list required. Just a saucepan on the hob, a bit of curiosity, and colours that quietly celebrate spring.

If you try it, don’t aim for perfect Easter eggs. Aim for yours. That’s where the magic is.

How to Dye Easter Eggs Naturally: Frequently Asked Questions

1. Are naturally dyed Easter eggs safe to eat?

Yes, if the eggs are boiled, refrigerated promptly and not left out for styling. Once eggs have been hollowed, displayed at room temperature, or used purely for decoration, they should be considered decorative only.

2. Why are my naturally dyed eggs lighter than expected?

Natural dyes create soft, muted colours, not the bright shades you get from artificial dyes. Leaving eggs in the dye longer or using white eggs will deepen the colour slightly, but variation is part of the charm.

3. Do I need to use vinegar when dyeing eggs naturally?

Vinegar isn’t essential, but it helps the colour bind to the shell, especially with lighter dyes like cabbage or beetroot. A small splash is enough.

4. Can I dye eggs without boiling them first?

Yes. For decorative eggs, you can hollow raw eggs first and then dye the empty shells. For edible eggs, always boil them before dyeing and keep them chilled.

5. How long do naturally dyed eggs last?

Decorative, hollow eggs can last years if stored carefully. Boiled eggs should be eaten within 7 days if kept refrigerated and handled safely.