An easy guide on dying eggs with onion skins, flowers and herbs!
The beauty of homemade Easter Eggs with onion skins wrapped in nylon stockings.(<-amazon)
I can’t even think of a better organic egg color than this. Beautiful, cool and healthy, onion skin dye takes the cake.
Since this is an organic wholesome food blog, I can’t just let you use that egg dye kit from the drug store. At least not if you plan on eating the eggs.
Do you want to make the best Easter eggs ever ? Just color them with onion dye and use herbs and flowers as stencils to create pretty designs.
You can use all kinds of cool stuff from nature to dye your eggs different colors.
I did red eggs using both red beets and red onion skins, and the golden marbled design by wrapping the eggs in yellow onion skins. You can also mix red and yellow onion skins for a lighter golden red color.
To create designs you can use anything from chervil leaves to flower petals or grass, the possibilities are endless.
Ferns, dill and lucky charms are my favorites, especially because with the lucky charms you can do hearts and butterflies as well.
Very important:
Remember to soak the onion skins for a few hours or overnight, to obtain that beautiful rich color. You can choose to soak the prepared eggs with them to start the coloring process, or just add them to boiling colored water.
As you experiment with homemade Easter Eggs making, you will figure out your ideal process to accomplish your favorite colors.
How to dye eggs with onion skins, flowers and herbs.
- 1 dozen organic eggs
- 3 c yellow onion skins mixed with red skins (packed)
- 1 red beet -sliced (optional)
- 2 tsp white vinegar
- 2 qt water
- 1 c herbs for decoration
- 1 nylon stocking
Cut the nylon stocking into 5 inch squares.
Stick a couple of leaves or flowers on each egg with a drop of water, then wrap it gently in the nylon stocking and tie it at each end.
Add the the onion skins (+ beets if using) and the vinegar to a big pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and simmer for about 10 minutes.
- Add the eggs to the boiling water one by one and boil for 8 to 10 minutes to your liking.
Allow to cool completely.
At this point you can remove the eggs from the hot water or you may refrigerate them in the liquid overnight for a deeper color.
- Once cool enough to handle transfer each egg to a plate and cut the stocking with a pair of scissors . Discard the herbs and pat them dry with a paper towel. For extra shine you may rub them with a little olive or coconut oil.
For the marbled eggs design, wrap each egg in a few yellow onion skins, then wrap tightly in a nylon stalking. Boil in yellow onion dye following the above instructions, only just using yellow onion skins.
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Angie
April 23, 2011 at 6:18 pmThese turned out beautifully! Growing up in Puerto Rico, we never did the egg dye thing. And it is the one tradition that we have not acquired in our home mostly because it is just adults. But these make me want to go get some eggs and start coloring them. Great job!
Florentina
April 26, 2011 at 12:47 pmThank you Angie! Have fun !
Nancy @SensitivePantry
April 23, 2011 at 6:33 pmThis is way cool! I love naturally died easter eggs . Never have seen the idea of using leaves to decorate them. Just beautiful.
Sarah "Finding Charm"
April 24, 2011 at 9:07 amLove these! Thanks for the tip. That color is very cool.
Jennifer Reid
April 24, 2011 at 4:22 pmThey look gorgeous! That’s how my mum has always dyed eggs! Happy Easter Florentina xo
Florentina
April 26, 2011 at 12:50 pmthanks Jennifer, doing those eggs brings back tons of wonderful childhood memories.
Barbara @ Barbara Bakes
April 26, 2011 at 11:22 amSo much prettier too!
Florentina
April 26, 2011 at 1:00 pmThank you Barbara 🙂 Good to see you!
melissa
April 26, 2011 at 3:55 pmSo sad I missed this post! The kids would have loved it. Saving for next year. 🙂
Marianna
October 1, 2013 at 2:49 pmWe only did the onion dye, but I can see possibilities with blueberries, blackberries or Saskatoon berries.
Adding the leaf motif makes them so much prettier.
Robyn
March 24, 2015 at 8:45 amThese eggs are so elegant. I must post this to FB.
Florentina
March 24, 2015 at 12:03 pmThank you Robyn! Please do, I hope you make some yourself 🙂
Sally
March 5, 2016 at 7:41 amI think these are awesome. I have used onion skins to dye before, but never with floral or herbal designs. When you say “nylon stalking” do you mean something like cheese cloth or a nylon stocking?
Florentina
March 5, 2016 at 12:05 pmHi Sally, I mean nylon stocking, like nylon tights, just an old ruined pair will work great. Or you can grab a cheap one at the store. Have a fun weekend !
Scott
March 22, 2016 at 2:41 pmJust made a dozen with the kids. These are the coolest Easter Eggs, we are about to make another batch with just yellow onion skins. Talk about a fun way to keep the kids entertained, I’ll be eating hard boiled eggs for a few days but I don’t mind since it is all natural colors. Way to go !
Robin Rue (@massholemommy)
March 22, 2016 at 2:44 pmWhat a neat way to color eggs. I will have to try this.
Jeanette
March 22, 2016 at 4:35 pmThat is VERY cool! I would have never thought of doing that, but it is beautiful! I want to try this!
Stacie
March 22, 2016 at 6:58 pmI never thought of dying my eggs this way. What a fantastic idea. Something for me to try.
jeni hawkins
March 22, 2016 at 7:15 pmWow – I had NO idea this was even possible! It’s so beautiful and natural!
Stacie
March 22, 2016 at 8:19 pmEgg dying doesn’t have to be just for kids. These are so lovely & would make a lovely centerpiece.
Florentina
March 23, 2016 at 12:19 pmThanks Stacie, I totally use them as a centerpiece in a moss covered basket usually. It always impresses everyone. Hope you give them a go !
Dawn
March 22, 2016 at 8:44 pmThis is super neat! I love how you used natural things in an effort to dye your eggs. They all turned out so beautifully.
Autumn Reo
March 22, 2016 at 9:10 pmOk – these are just beautiful! How long did it take you to do them start to finish? They are absolutely beautiful!
Florentina
March 23, 2016 at 12:18 pmThanks so much ! I would say no more than 1 hour including picking the herbs to use as stencils and making decisions ha! Really easy and quick!
Ryan Escat
March 23, 2016 at 12:44 amWow this is so cute and fun! I totally love the idea of onion. Kids would love it.
Aimee Smith
March 23, 2016 at 1:51 amThese eggs are absolutely gorgeous! What a cool process.
Mistee Dawn
March 23, 2016 at 4:37 amThat is so amazing! I had no idea you could do that! And they look beautiful!
Florentina
March 23, 2016 at 12:16 pmThanks Mistee, have fun coloring eggs the way nature intended !
Ann Bacciaglia
March 23, 2016 at 5:44 amThis is a great way to do your Easter eggs. We tried this last year and they turned out amazing.
Florentina
March 23, 2016 at 12:16 pmLove it ! So much fun!
gingermommyrants
March 23, 2016 at 5:44 amI will have to try this with the kids on the weekend. This looks like a unique way to decorate eggs.
Florentina
March 23, 2016 at 12:16 pmOh yes hope you do, kids have a blast with this project !
Liz Mays
March 23, 2016 at 1:32 pmI didn’t realize you could do that, but what a great natural way to pretty up eggs for Easter. I’m totally trying it!
Katrina
March 25, 2016 at 10:53 pmIm from Latvia and we usualy color eggs naturally. Im glad that somewere else someone is coloring them the same, not using all the chemicals… You Made soo beutifull eggs! Happy easter! ❤
Florentina
March 25, 2016 at 11:37 pmThank you so much Katrina! Happy Easter to you as well! ~ Florentina
Mary @ Fit and Fed
March 27, 2016 at 10:21 amSubtle and naturally beautiful! Thanks for the tip about soaking the onions overnight, pinning this to save the idea!
Becca Wilson
March 28, 2016 at 7:01 pmThis is such a neat concept! I never would have known about it if you would not have shared!
Florentina
March 28, 2016 at 9:57 pmYes it is so much fun, hope you make them and have a blast !