Wire basket (which holds keys for 50 weeks out of the year) with baby's breath and a handle made from the stem of a wilted cut flower

Before there was PAAS, eggs were decorated by nature. Dyes made from vegetables, edible flowers, fruits, coffee and teas were used for centuries. So we figured we’d give it a try. Now, our first venture into natural egg dyeing was a disaster. After boiling an egg with spinach leaves, another with carrots, and another with smashed blackberries, we got—wait for it—a white egg, a white egg with gooey stuff on it, and a white egg held by purple fingers. So we tried all different recipes and after a lot of experimentation, a huge mess, and fingers that we hope will one day return to a normal human color, we give you some eco-friendly ways to dye your eggs—ones that actually work.

Silk-dyed eggs

RECYCLED SILK EGGS
That old tie with the stain on it, the silk shirt with the tear in it. You can’t give them away, but you can use them to dye eggs year after year, instead of throwing them in the trash. Just cut any dark silk fabric into large squares, wrap an egg up in it, then wrap the whole thing in an old t-shirt, rag or other white fabric and tie it tightly at the top with a rubber band or twist tie. Bring to a boil with a little vinegar and let sit for an hour. The print from the fabric will be transferred to the egg shell. Do not eat silk-dyed eggs.

Egg dyed with fresh flowers and onion peels

FRESH CUT FLOWER EGGS
You won’t get any more natural then this. Go outside, grab flowers of all shapes, colors and sizes, leaves, bark and put it in a piece of fabric along with your egg, wrap it up and twist it tight on top. Boil it in water mixed with about 2 cups of red or yellow onion peels for 20 minutes and you’ll have a beautiful water colored egg with flower and leaf designs. Use edible flowers if eating. (After doing this with a thicker fabric, the colors didn’t take. For best results every time, wrap layers of onion skins around flowers and egg, hold in place with rubber bands if necessary, then wrap in fabric and boil in water.)

Egg wrapped in a dark purple paisley tie and boiled for 30 minutes.

SKY BLUE CABBAGE EGGS
Chop up a head of red cabbage, throw it in a pot. Add water till its about 1-2 inches over the cabbage and let boil for 30 minutes. Your purple cabbage will end up looking blue, white and scary, so just get rid of that. Let the purple water cool down or throw your eggs in while its hot, add some vinegar, about a quarter cup—measuring is for wimps—and let the eggs sit at least an hour; for darker colors, overnight.

Egg dyed in turmeric

BRIGHT YELLOW HERBAL EGGS
Bring 6 tablespoons of turmeric mixed with 2 quarts of water to a boil. Put your eggs in the liquid (hot or cold) 20-30 minutes for a bright yellow.

Egg dyed with beets and cranberry juice

LAVENDER BEET JUICE EGGS
Mix 3 cans of sliced beets, juice and all, with pomegranate, cranberry or grape juice, bring to a boil and toss in some vinegar. Let it cool or put your eggs in while it’s hot. Let sit for at least 1 hour.

Eggs wrapped in silk, then a barrier fabric

ORANGE CHILI EGGS
Bring 6 tablespoons of chili powder mixed with 2 quarts water to a boil. Put your eggs in the liquid (hot or cold) at least 1 hour for a brilliant orange.

Egg boiled while wrapped in layers of red and yellow onion peels for 20 minutes

EARTHY MARBLE ONION PEEL EGGS
Go to the supermarket and raid the red and yellow onion peels. Throw them in water to make them flexible, then wrap them in thick layers around egg. Hold in place with rubber bands and boil for 30 minutes. You’ll get a brown, red, yellow marble pattern when you unwrap them.

A lot more exciting than throwing a tablet in water and watching it fizz, eh?

*Use vegetable oil to polish eggs when dry