RECIPE :: HOW TO NATURALLY DYE EASTER EGGS BLUE

Natural dyes can create some of the most beautiful colors.  Plants, spices, animals & fungi have been used historically all over the world to dye clothing, textiles, artifacts and act as a color additive for beauty products.  You can easily create a rainbow of colors using everyday ingredients found in the kitchen.  Mix & match different dyes, or dye the eggs at various lengths of time and your results will multiply.

From Scratch Magazine by Farmhouse 38

Martha Stewart

NATURAL DYE COLORING AGENTS

Red  ::  Beets; Paprika
Orange  ::  Red onion skin
Yellow  ::  Turmeric; Cumin; Green apple peels
Green  ::  Hibiscus tea
Blue  ::  Blueberry; Red cabbage
Purple  ::  Red onion skin; Purple grape juice
Brown  ::  Coffee

Just Short of Crazy

Today, I'm experimenting with a single ingredient - red cabbage.  We threw a huge party a few weeks ago where the menu included a delicious miso ginger cabbage slaw.  I overestimated and bought three too many heads of cabbage.  I managed to use up two of the extras since then, but the last one is still sitting in the fridge.  Needless to say, we are totally cabbaged out.  This DIY project couldn't have come in a more opportune time.  The lone cabbage is not going to be wasted.  The result?  Red cabbage produces a very soft blue palette in a matte finish.

HOW TO NATURALLY DYE EASTER EGGS BLUE

INGREDIENTS/ TOOLS NEEDED

1 head of Red Cabbage, roughly chopped

1 dozen Hard-Boiled Eggs (Note: Final results will vary depending on use of white vs. brown eggs.)

4 tsp White Vinegar

5 cups of water

Large stockpot

Large mixing bowl or deep baking pan

DIRECTIONS

1.  Fill a large stockpot with 5 cups of water.  Add the chopped cabbage & bring to boil.

2.  Simmer for another 30-45 minutes until desired color is reached.  The longer it simmers, the more intense the color gets.

3.  Turn off the stove and allow the cabbage mixture to cool completely before straining the cabbage dye into a large mixing bowl.

4.  Add 4 tsp of white vinegar into the liquid mixture & stir.  (Note:  Don't worry about the dye being purple.  Just wait and see.  The final product will be blue.)

5.  Gently submerge the eggs into the mixing bowl.  Be sure that the eggs are completely covered by the liquid.

6.  Rotate eggs every 15 minutes using a large spoon or tongs.  This is important to ensure each egg gets complete dye coverage.

7.  To achieve the various shades of blue, leave the eggs in the dye between 30 minutes to overnight in the fridge.

• Less time in the dye = a lighter, subtle shade
• More time in the dye = a darker, richer shade

8.  Remove eggs with spoon or tongs, pat dry with a paper towel, & let dry on a wire drying rack.

TIME & COST 

Time  ::  1 hour (Active); 3 to 24 hours (Total)

Cost  ::  $5.15

Enjoy & Happy Easter!