Ultimate Guide to Coloring and Dying Easter Eggs

Learn everything there is to know about dying Easter eggs in this guide! All of your egg coloring questions answered. Plus, great Easter egg coloring tips and tricks!

Whether you’re using colored eggs to decorate for an Easter brunch, hosting an egg decorating party or just dying eggs for fun… dying eggs is a fun, family-friendly DIY project!

Easter was established in 325 AD, during the Council of Nicaea. 

Since then, Christians all around the world have celebrated Easter. In modern times, it is a popular holiday that features several cultural traditions. No tradition is more synonymous with the holiday than dying Easter eggs. 

The act of dying eggs is not difficult with proper preparation. Here are some common questions and answers about dying eggs before we get into the process. 

Should Eggs Be Warm or Cold When Dying?

The answer to this is that it doesn’t matter. The other answer to this question is that eggs should always be refrigerated when you aren’t working with them. 

Should Hard-Boiled Eggs Be Room Temperature to Color?

They should be easy to handle, and there shouldn’t be any risk of burning yourself. Letting them cool before coloring will prevent this from happening, but they can be warm or cold without problems.

How Long Should Eggs Be Cooled Before Coloring Them?

You should let your eggs sit for 15 minutes before you do anything after hard boiling. This allows the yolk and white to fully set. You can run them under cold water to cool faster if you wish.

Can Cold Hard-Boiled Eggs Be Dyed?

Yes, they can be. In fact, many people prefer to work with refrigerated eggs because there’s less chance you’ll burn yourself.

Can You Dye Uncooked Eggs?

You can dye an uncooked egg, but there are some good reasons to boil them. A hard-boiled egg is better for an Easter egg hunt because they won’t break.

If they do break, they won’t make as large of a mess. The other component is that they will remain edible and can be consumed after being peeled if you choose.  

Do You Have to Use Vinegar to Dye Eggs?

You don’t have to. The role of vinegar is to help the dye stick to the shell. A substitute is possible such as lemon juice. 

Can You Dye Eggs With Food Coloring?

Easter egg dye is simple food coloring or food-grade coloring. Easter egg coloring uses food dye, and you should start with about twenty drops of food coloring in a small bowl of warm water.

This amount will provide a strong, robust color. You can increase the amount of dye used, and the color will deepen or darken. 

How Do You Dye Red Easter Eggs With Food Coloring?

You aren’t limited to just the colors you find at the local store. Food can be dyed any color imaginable, and you can even use a stencil to put patterns on the egg. For a specific color, you simply use that color of food dye, in this case, red. 

How to Dye Pink Eggs

Pink and other colors that don’t come in a normal pack of food coloring can be reached by mixing colors. Put green, blue, and red food dye in separate bowls. You can then place the egg into each one, by one and your egg will come out pink. 

However, pink dye does come in Easter egg dying kits. Just drop the little tablet in the bowl with hot water and it will turn the water bright pink as well as the eggs!

How Do You Dry Eggs After Drying Them?

You can air dry them by putting them back in their container. You can also dab them with a towel, but be careful not to remove any dye. 

The Steps to How to Dye Easter Eggs

Here are the basic steps to dying an egg:

1. Equipment and Tools You Need to Dye Your Easter Eggs

To begin with, you will need to have bowls and spoons. For the bowls, make sure they are large enough to accommodate the eggs you are using. They should be deep enough that the egg can become fully submerged. 

The tools that are often used in egg coloring are nothing more than a spoon. Slotted spoons work very well because they naturally drain off liquid.

Many people use basic tablespoons, as well, as these can be employed without too much hassle. If you’re using an egg dying kit they come with special tools to remove eggs from the coloring bowls.

2. Type of Eggs to Use

Any size of an egg can be colored. If you want to go into more extensive patterning, it is easy to work with larger eggs. 

White or brown eggs can be used, but keep in mind the color of the egg can impact the color the egg becomes. In general, large white eggs are the easiest to work with and color. 

3. Vinegar and Water and Coloring Are Essential

The next step is to submerge the eggs in water. You don’t need a lot of water, just enough to immerse the egg.

Boiling the water before you begin dying will help you mix everything together smoother. Put the hot water in a small bowl and add 3 tsp of white vinegar to it. Once the water has cooled and the dye has mixed you can begin to dye your eggs!

Once that is mixed, you are free to begin coloring Easter eggs. One thing to keep in mind is that the egg doesn’t always have to be fully submerged in a single color.

Using a slotted spoon, or a large spoon even, you can apply various colors to the outside of an egg. 

Easter Egg Coloring Ideas

One interesting thing you can do is dye your eggs in preparation for additional decorations! From adding cracked shells to gold leafing your eggs. Here are some more Easter egg decorating ideas!

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• Calligraphy Easter Eggs
• Mosaic Easter Eggs
• Gold Leaf Easter Eggs
• DIY Ombre Easter Eggs
• Watercolor Eggs
• Marbled Easter Eggs with Shaving Cream

Another fun idea is using stickers to decorate colored Easter eggs!

We’ve even spray painted eggs to color them and they always turn our beautiful! Here are a few tips:

• Place newspaper outside in an area away from anything you don’t want to get paint on!
• Lay the hard-boiled eggs on their side and spray the top side first, get the bottom and the top.
• Let them dry, then turn them over to spray the other side.

Natural Easter Eggs

You can use dried flowers, herbs and natural colors for dying Easter eggs! Here are some great ideas for naturally dying eggs!

No Limit to the Fun of Dying Easter Eggs

There is no limit to the fun you can have with egg dying for Easter. 

From family gatherings to delicious food and fun games, Easter is a time for families to enjoy each other’s company. Bright, fantastic looking eggs will be sure to draw attention and notice from the others in your family.

The best way to make every holiday memorable is to enjoy what you are doing. Dying Easter eggs is only one part of what will make your holiday special. 

Sugar and Charm is here to help people find creative, fun, and beautiful ways to express themselves! Let us know if you make these eggs by leaving a comment below!

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