I grew up coloring eggs using natural colorants in food as an alternative to store-bought Easter egg dyes.  Using onion skins, for example, I was amazed at intense pigmentation they would transfer to the eggs. There are many ways of dying eggs using brightly colored foods as the source of staining, but here is the easiest way to maximize the intensity of the color:

The following are good food sources of natural dyes:

All measurements are based on boiling 6-8 eggs.  You will need the food dyes, white vinegar, eggs, water and a medium sauce pan.

red cabbage (10-12 outer leaves): blue-violet to vibrant blue eggs

red beet (2 peeled beets cut in chunks): rosy pink eggs

onion skins (12-15 dry skins): deep gold to auburn eggs, depending on the color of the skin

green tea bags(3-4): pastel olive green eggs

turmeric(3-4 tablespoons): vivid yellow eggs

raspberry tea bags(3-4): faint pink-brown eggs

First, place the food in a medium size sauce pan. Place uncooked eggs on top and fill with water for about 1/2-1 inch over eggs.  Add three tablespoons of white vinegar.  Turn on medium flame and wait for water to boil. Stir gently to mix everything.  Once boiling, leave over heat for 16 minutes. Turn off flame and let colored water and eggs sit and cool.  If color intensity is satisfactory, remove and rinse eggs.  If more intensity is desired, eggs can be left in the colored water until desired color is attained.  For maximum intensity, pour colored water into jar, place eggs in jar and cover. Let sit in refrigerator over night.  When the eggs dry, shine with light coating of vegetable oil.

My daughter’s favorite was the vibrant blue color from red cabbage.  They were boiled and then soaked in a sauce pan until the water was room temperature. The colored water and eggs were put into a jar and sat overnight until the morning.  I rinsed and shined with vegetable oil. I also thought to mix the turmuric water with the cabbage water and soak eggs to make a vivid green.  Send me a photo if you decide to try this!  What to do with left over-hard boiled eggs?  Avocado Egg Salad, of course.  Click here to learn about the benefits of eggs, a nutrient-dense food.