I make onion skin dyed Easter eggs each spring. This tradition has gone back generations and generations in my family.
Onion skin dyed eggs so easy and even more satisfying to make. A basket of these almost magical eggs are a real treasure! Deep oranges, warm browns, soft terracotta. Not your typical Easter colors. But once you see them you will understand!
I hope you will make these beautiful, earthy harbingers of Easter and start your own tradition...
Here at StoneGable, I continue an Easter tradition that spans back many generations. I have vivid memories, as a little girl, dying onion skin eggs. These special eggs, dyed with papery onion skin, were prized above all the pretty pastel and sherbert-colored eggs. They were tradition. My grandmother, Nani, learned from her mother. It was the way in the old country.
Now my daughter and daughter-in law will carry on this family tradition!
Things You Need To Make Onion Skin Dyed Eggs:
*The pappery skin from yellow onions. To dye 1 dozen I used the skin from about 3 lbs. onions.
*1 dozen large white eggs
*Large pot
*Cold water to just cover the eggs
Proceedure To Make Onion Skin Dyed Eggs:
Rub or peel the outer papery skin off of onions.
Put onion skins in a large pot. Add 1 dozen clean large eggs and enough water to just cover them. Gently swirl the onion skins in the water so they envelope the eggs.
Put the pot on the stove and cook uncovered on medium low heat until water comes to a steady boil. Ocassionally stir onion skins around eggs.
When water boils, turn off heat and put lid on pot. Let pot sit for 17 minutes.
When time is up, remove eggs and onion skin to a bowl with a slotted spoon and put in the refrigerator. Arrange onion skin around eggs. This will give them a more pronounced mottled look. Eggs can sit awhile. I usually let them sit in the onion skins for about 1 hour.
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Remove eggs from bowl and rinse. If there is any dried onion skin on them scrape it off.
I keep the onion water and let it cool. If I want a couple of darker eggs, I put eggs in the onion water in the refrigerator for an hour. Remove eggs and rinse. Discard onion skins and water.
Keep refrigerated until ready to eat.
I hope you enjoy this beautiful and natural way to dye eggs.
Remember to
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This is something we do in our family too! Sometimes I use red onions for a wonderful purple. Although my favourite is the subtle colou from yellow onions.
ReplyDeleteI just love how those turned out. I just may try this plus some other natural colors.
ReplyDeleteSo naturally beautiful. What a great idea. On my "To Do " list now.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing,
Deb@LakeGirlPaints
I love the mottled look. Onion skin is lovely to die lots of things.
ReplyDeleteHugs Kay
I have always admired your onion dyed eggs and now I know how you make them!...have you tried using the red onion skins?...Beautiful eggs and so glad you are able to pass this traditional down ...
ReplyDeleteThat's so neat! I love the variations of color that it gives.. beautiful!
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother was an immigrant from Russia. I have vivid memories of Easter eggs of this color at her home. My mother never carried on the onion skin tradition, but I think I may start up the tradition again, and use onion skins this year with my 3 year old and one year old grand daughters. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteSo so pretty and natural looking.I liked learning how to do it.Thank You :) Denise
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, Yvonne! I love the natural look of these eggs and the fact that it is a tradition in your family that has gone from generation to generation. Thank for stopping by this week to leave a sweet comment on my Buttermilk Mini Muffins. I hope you have a wonderful week.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Nici
Great post. We have traditional onion skin dyed Easter eggs that are made with cotton lace and eggs. I believe that this tradition was passed down from my German ancestors. Warm regards
ReplyDelete~Yvonne~
ReplyDeleteThat is so neat !! I have never heard of doing that, but I sure would like to try it :)
Thanks for sharing.
Paula
IN
Suzanne of Simply Suzannes at Home
ReplyDeleteI love this, Yvonne!
Each one is different, making them unique and special.
Can you also do this with red/purple onions?
Thanks so much for sharing,
Suzanne
Very interesting Yvonne! I had heard that onion skins were used to dye things. Might try dyeing with purple onion skins.
ReplyDeleteThis is great ..... And..... Before you discard the onion water - Use it as a natural highlighter for your hair! You will get beautiful, natural golden highlights - with NO chemicals!
ReplyDeleteDon't believe me? Google it!
Lovely! I think I may have to try these this year..I'm kind of 'over' messing with the usual dye kits. My ancestors came from Germany- maybe I'll call it getting back to my roots. :). Thanks for sharing these!
ReplyDeleteHi lovely lady.
ReplyDeleteWOW onion skins !! This is a great Idea thanks for sharing.
God Bless.
xxoo Diane
I knew the Native Indians used foods and fruits to dye cloth. Beets would make a lovely rose color but I had never thought of using these for eggs. I love it!
ReplyDeleteThe grandmother of a childhood friend taught me this technique, although hers involved wrapping each egg individually with onion skins and cheesecloth, but to this day it is my favorite way to color eggs. Last year I tried it on blown out eggs so I could use them year after year in some of my spring décor. I carefully wrapped the blown out eggs in dry onion skins and wrapped them in foil. They will try to float when you boil them, so I placed a small plate on top to hold them down. They turned out beautiful, but I think next year I will try your method of adding the skins to the water. Your pictures are just lovely.
ReplyDeleteThese look rad! I haven't made dyed eggs since I was a kiddie!
ReplyDelete