An Easter tradition, here at StoneGable, is to dye Easter eggs with onion skin. This practice goes back generations and generations in my maternal family. Not what most would consider a traditional Easter egg color, these eggs say Easter to me!
Onion skin eggs take on beautiful, deep rusty orange hues with lots of marbling and character. They are works of serendipitous art... each subtly different from the next.
I expanded the Easter egg color palette a tad this year to include peach, purple and lavender too! I think there is room in the Easter basket for a couple new colors! Making these eggs is a soul-satisfying endeavor, and they are splendid... much richer and interesting than than dying eggs with store-bought dyes.
Onion Skin Easter Eggs
Click HERE to see a complete tutorial.
Peach Onion Skin Easter Eggs
Hard boiled eggs
Liquid from the onion skin eggs
Pour off the liquid from the onion skins into a deep cup or bowl. Dip hard boiled eggs in the liquid until it takes on the peach color you like. Transfer egg to an upside down egg carton to dry.
Purple And Lavender Dyed Eggs
I think these purple and lavender eggs are just gorgeous! I have never been satisfied with the purple store bought dye. It gets blotchy and streaked with red. I was very pleased with how evenly the naturally dyed eggs came out.
3 cups 100 % grape juice
1/8- 1/4 tsp Wilton purple food coloring paste
hard boiled eggs
Put the grape juice in a saucepan and heat till it is simmering. Add food coloring paste and remove from heat. Stir until the dye paste completely dissolves.
Transfer the purple dye to a large cup or bowl.
Dip the eggs in the dye until you get the color you desire. Transfer to upside down egg cartons to dry.
I hope you will try making these naturally dyed Easter eggs!
Just a note of caution. This is a grown-up activity due to the boiling liquids.
Yvonne, these are so pretty. Such vibrant colors. I knew Better Homes and Gardens did an article about using different vegetables and things to achieve different colors. I was surprised to read that red cabbage creates blue eggs.
ReplyDeleteOh my... I'll be gone on Easter (Spring Break photography trip to eastern WA) but when I get home I'm going to try this so I can display some in my vintage wire egg basket (blown out of course!)... Have a lovely Easter!
ReplyDeleteYep- I have dyed them with onion skins, too. I love them. We have also used blueberries and beets and cabbage. Love them!!! Love yours!!!! xo Diana
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter Yvonne, Your Easter eggs are so pretty and vibrant. I learned something new tonight about coloring eggs. We had always used store bought being the kids like to do it when they were young. It would be make a pretty center piece for sure. Take care Your Missouri Friend.
ReplyDeleteYvonne, you are right about the store bought purple dyes. I have never been satisfied. This looks easy and your eggs are beautiful. Drying the eggs on the egg crate is also a great idea! Thanks. Linda
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU for this wonderful tutorial! I fell IN LOVE with these peach and purple eggs when I saw them on your Easter buffet. Simply gorgeous. I wish you, Bobby and the "kids" a happy, blessed Easter. Hope to see you SOON!!!!! XO, Pinky
ReplyDeleteYvonne, these are SOOOO gorgeous! I am going to do these tomorrow with my girl instead of buying the store bought dyes. Thank you for showing how to do this. Just lovely!
ReplyDeleteHeather
Love these beautiful eggs!! Happy Easter!
ReplyDeleteKarin
These are beautiful, Yvonne! I'd really like to try these this year. Thanks for passing along your tips and your wonderful tradition of dyeing with onion skins.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! Thank you for sharing your tutorial.
ReplyDeleteThese are gorgeous! I am all about using vegetables for dye, as I am allergic to traditional food dye. It's not good for anyone, really. Thanks for the inspiring pictures and tutorial. We are dying eggs tomorrow, and we will be trying this!
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter to you and your family!!
xo-Lisa
Yvonne, my mother has told me of onion skins for dye and was amazed when she dyed tulle a yellowish-golden color for her hat. It was beautiful, such an old fashioned light and dark color at the same time.
ReplyDeleteThe eggs look great and so brightly colored who would want to hide them? Leave them for all to see.
Thank you,
Darlene
I just died eggs with my granddaughter wish I'd read this before..it's very cool
ReplyDeleteGorgeous eggs and it is so wonderful to know that they are naturally dyed. Thank you so much for presenting this wonderful tutorial...I can honestly tell you that I have learned so much from your wonderful posts...Love them all!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter to you and your family!
hi Yvonne, Beautiful eggs. This onion skin dye is one I missed in all the years I've dyed eggs. I'll have to try this, i love the colors it produces. Good hint with the egg carton.
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter to your and yours………
~Emily
The French Hutch
I just love this method and love all the great natural color you can get. Thanks for sharing there beauty.
ReplyDeleteIt's a lot more work, but it you remove large pieces of onion skin, lay them in a coffee filter, place the egg inside, tie the "purse" closed, and boil them till done, you will get gorgeous, marble-looking eggs. Both yellow and red onion skins work.
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful bold colors. I love them. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteWe have been dying eggs in onion skins and cotton lace for generations in our family - such a lovely tradition.
ReplyDeleteHave a safe and happy Easter.
Hi lovely lady.
ReplyDeleteThis is Gorgeous your eggs and it is so wonderful to know that they are naturally dyed. I hope you have a wonderful Easter with your family from my house to yours.
XXOO Diane
When I was in elementary school, I was at my grandmother's one day and had to take colored eggs to school the next day. She was a farm lady, and we went out on the farm and gathered things (onion skins was one) and used them to dye the eggs. It was fascinating, and I have done that many times since then. The eggs are so much prettier.
ReplyDeleteI love those lavender coloured eggs, such a beautiful colour.
ReplyDeletePaul