5 Ways to Color Eggs with Items Already in Your Kitchen

Many of these Easter eggs can be made in less than an hour with ingredients you probably already have right in your kitchen. Just grab some colorful produce, spices, vinegar and fresh eggs, then follow these simple steps:

Pink
1 medium beet, chopped + 2 c. water + 2 Tbsp. white vinegar

Place all ingredients in medium pot; bring to a boil. Let simmer 30 minutes, or until water turns deep red. Cool to room temperature, remove beet chunks, and pour liquid into a mason jar. Leave a hard-cooked egg in the dye for a few minutes to a few hours, depending upon the color desired.

Related: Mix & Match Easter Menus

Blue
1/4 head red cabbage, chopped + 4 c. water + 2 Tbsp. white vinegar

In medium pot, heat ingredients until water boils; simmer 25 minutes. Cool to room temperature, strain, and pour dye into two small jars. Leave a hard-cooked egg in the dye overnight for a royal blue.

Mustard Yellow
4 Tbsp. turmeric + 2 c. water + 2 Tbsp. white vinegar

In small pot, heat ingredients until boiling, then simmer 15 minutes. Cool mixture and pour into mason jar. Some turmeric will settle at the bottom of the jar-that's fine. Let each hard-cooked egg sit in the dye 1-5 minutes for a golden or burnt orange hue.

Pale Yellow

1 c. carrot tops, chopped + 2 c. water + 2 Tbsp. white vinegar

Heat ingredients in small pot until boiling. Let simmer 15 minutes; strain. Leave egg in dye overnight.

Related: Video: Easy-to-Make Easter Crafts and Recipes

To-dye-for Designs
Bored by one-tone creations? Before placing your eggs in dye overnight, wrap them with rubber bands. Once the dye is dry, remove the bands to reveal striking white space. You can also try covering an egg with pieces of tape or small stickers. The old trick of drawing on an egg with a wax crayon before dunking in dye also works with these natural dyes!

Crate Expectations
To display these natural beauties, think beyond the basket, which leaves some eggs hidden in the pile. This ceramic egg crate from World Market (also available in aqua) gives a spot to each stunner.

Hand out brushes and let the little ones paint their own mini masterpieces. These non-toxic dyes are safer than store-bought chemical-filled kits.

Whats your favorite way to color Easter eggs? Let me know in the comments!

--by Katie Holdefehr

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