Dyeing Easter eggs is one of the most fun and colorful traditions we do at our house. Kids of nearly all ages can get involved with varying degrees of help and care.
And while you can certainly buy an egg dye kit, this post will show you how to dye Easter eggs without a kit.
Related: Learn how to naturally dye Easter eggs with things like vegetables and spices.
Table of contents
Before we get into all the different ways you can dye and decorate Easter eggs without a kit, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Hard boil the eggs a few hours (or the day before) you plan to decorate. This way they can be cool to the touch.
- To hard boil, simply add all eggs to a pot with enough water to cover them. Bring this to a roiling boil, then turn off the heat and cover the pot for 12 minutes.
- Here is how to hard boil eggs in the oven.
- For children 2 years-old and younger, you may consider letting them “paint” the eggs with watercolors or simply add stickers to already dyed eggs. You know your kids best, so feel free to modify things for different ages.
- Be sure to cover the counters with a drop cloth or plastic (easy to clean) tablecloth to protect surfaces. All of these dyeing methods are safe and likely won’t ruin countertops or floors, but it can stain clothing or skin temporarily so take care.
How to dye Easter eggs with food coloring
- Food color
- White vinegar
- Water
- Cups & spoons
In each cup, add enough water that an egg will be fully submerged once added. Then add 10-15 drops of color (mix colors if you like!) and 1 teaspoon of vinegar.
Add hard boiled eggs to each dye bath, allowing them to stay submerged for 10 minutes or more. Then, carefully remove them and place on paper towels or a cooling rack to allow them to dry.
Once dry you can add more designs like acrylic paint or stickers, or you can leave them as is!
How to dye Easter eggs with shaving cream
Dyeing eggs with shaving cream will create a marbled effect. You can also use cool whip instead of shaving cream if you like.
- Shaving cream (or Cool Whip)
- Food color
- Toothpicks or popsicle sticks
- Shallow pan (like a pie pan or square baking pan)
Add shaving cream to the pan. Then, add drops of different food color all over. Use the toothpicks or popsicle sticks to swirl the color through the cream.
Add the hard boiled eggs, rotating them slightly so all sides get covered in the cream. Allow them to sit for 15-20 minutes.
Rinse the shaving cream off the eggs and place them on paper towels or a cooling rack to allow them to dry.
How to dye Easter eggs with rubber bands
You can use the rubber band method with any of these dyeing techniques. Simply add rubber bands to the outside of the hard boiled eggs before adding to the dye bath.
The areas covered by the rubber band will stay white while the rest of the egg gets dyed.
How to dye Easter eggs with Kool-Aid
- Kool-Aid packets
- Water
- Cups or bowls and a spoon
Add the entire Kool-Aid packet to the cup or bowl. Then add enough water so eggs will fully submerged once added. Stir to dissolve the drink mix.
Add the hard boiled eggs to the dye bath. Allow to soak for 15-20 minutes.
Rinse off the eggs under running water. There will be a colorful film that will rinse off, leaving a pastel colored egg beneath.
Depending how much water dilutes, the Kool-Aid packet will effect how pigmented your Easter eggs become.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it better to dye Easter eggs hot or cold?
Cold or room-temperature hard boiled eggs will be easier to handle than hot. As far as the water you add the food coloring to, it can be room temperature or hot to best dyeing results.
What is the best way to dye brown eggs for Easter?
Dyeing brown eggs is the same as dyeing white eggs, but the colors will turn out different (darker) when starting with a brown base. Focus your dyes on darker colors like blue and purple rather than lighter colors like pink or yellow for best results.
Why add vinegar when coloring eggs?
Vinegar is acid, so it reacts to the shell of the eggs, which is made of calcium carbonate. This essential softens the shell (slightly) so the dye can penetrate it better.
Looking for more Easter ideas?
- Easter Books and Activity Ideas
- Easter Bunny Footprint Art
- Easter Bingo, Tic-Tac-Toe, and Memory Game
- Easter Bunny Snack Board
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Get the How-To
Supplies
- food color
- vinegar
- water
- hard boiled eggs
Instructions
- In each cup, add enough water that an egg will be fully submerged once added.
- Then, add 10-15 drops of color (mix colors if you like!) and 1 teaspoon of vinegar.
- Add hard boiled eggs to each dye bath, allowing them to stay submerged for 10 minutes or more.
- Then, carefully remove them and place on paper towels or a cooling rack to allow them to dry.
Equipment
Notes
- Once dry you can add more designs like acrylic paint or stickers, or you can leave them as is!
- See post for instructions on how to dye Easter eggs with shaving cream, rubber bands, and Kool-Aid.
