I’m always looking for an affordable way to replace artificial foods with all natural substitutes, so of course I was on the hunt for an easter egg dye alternative. I know, I know… some of you are thinking “ain’t nobody got time for that” but it really doesn’t take that much extra work and it’s super neat! Not only is it all natural but it could easily turn into a science lesson for the little ones too.
Aside from letting my two-year olds help dye the eggs, I let them prepare the foods prior to boiling. They had a blast peeling onion skins while I prepared the pots.
What you’ll need:
- 2 c. chopped purple cabbage
- 1 chopped beet
- 2 c. red onion skin
- 2 c. yellow onion skin
- 1 c. blueberries
- 2 Tbsp. paprika
- 2 Tbsp. turmeric
- 14 c. water
- 7 tsp. salt
- 7 Tbsp. white vinegar
- Mason jars or other containers
- Boiled eggs – as many as you’d like, you’ll have plenty of dye!
Directions:
- Place each item into a pot of 2 cups boiling water and 1 tsp. salt
- Boil for 15 minutes
- Strain the dye into a measuring cup then into individual mason jars or bowls
- Add 1 Tbsp white vinegar to each jar
- Allow to cool before using
We used mason jars and large glasses to hold the dye and whisks to dip the eggs.
The whisks made it so easy, just slip the egg in and dip away!
I have two toddlers so doing this inside wasn’t an option, so I stripped them down and headed outside.
Look at how awesome they turned out. The colors are a bit muted compared to most other dyes but they are beautiful and so natural!
Now let’s be honest, this approach does take some extra time (about 30 minutes) and as with all activities being led by toddlers, it takes a lot of patience.
The experience will outlast a few cracked eggs by several years. Don’t fret, make a mess and have some fun!
Enjoy yourselves and Happy Easter!