Naturally dyed Easter eggs laying on top of burlap

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Last week I made a gigantic run in my pantyhose. I’ve never been happier to destroy a pair of good tights (I knew the Easter eggs were coming up!). Pantyhose work best. You can buy a cheap pair for a couple bucks, but foil is a good alternative. I tested both.

The dye is au naturale; the woodsy tones are extracted from onion peels! Some people prefer red onion, but the color gets pretty dark; I like the yellow onion mo’ betta. This whole process of dyeing Easter eggs took me 30-40 minutes and that’s with cooking them in 2 batches. Not bad. It’s easier than it looks.

What You’ll Need:

1 pair of nylon stockings OR foil
A few sprigs of fresh herbs (parsley, cilantro, etc.)
12 white eggs
About 1/2 of a plastic grocery bag of yellow onion peels
1/2 Tbsp salt

Natural Ester Eggs

How To Natural Easter Eggs:

Fill a medium pot with 2/3 of the onion peels and add water until it’s about one third full. Boil for 10 minutes to allow the onion to release it’s color then add 1/2 Tbsp salt. While this is cooking, start on your eggs.

Natural Ester Eggs-4

Method #1: Herb Prints

Note: foil does not hold herbs well enough; if you want the herb prints, you really NEED nylons.
1. Wrap cilantro, parsley or whatever herbs you wish to use around the egg.

2. Pull the stocking over one hand and place the egg over it, grab a hold of the egg with your stocking hand and wrap your fingers around it being careful to keep the herbs from folding or wrinkling. Invert the stocking over the egg then tighten and twist at the base. The stocking should wrap snuggly around the egg to keep the herbs in place.

3. Tie a string around the base to secure the stocking.

4. Boil for 10 minutes making sure the eggs are fully submerged then remove from water, let cool until they are a safe temperature to handle, then use scissors to cut away the stocking. Wipe away herb remains with a paper towel.

Natural Ester Eggs-5

Method #2: Marbelized hues

Note: the inspiration for these marbelized hues is from: Pille’s Estonian eggs

1. Wrap each egg with enough onion peels to cover the surface; there should be no white showing.

2. Pull the stocking over your hand and place the egg over it, grab a hold of the egg with your stocking hand and wrap your fingers around it. Invert the stocking over the egg then tighten and twist at the base.

3. Tie a string around the base to secure the stocking.

4. Boil for 10 minutes making sure the eggs are fully submerged then remove from water, let cool until they are a safe temperature to handle, then use scissors to cut away the stocking.

Natural Ester Eggs-6Natural Ester Eggs-3

Method #3: Solid Wood Hues

This is the easiest way to get that beautiful solid woodsy color is to simply put the eggs into the pot directly with the onion peel; no pantyhose required! Cook 10 minutes (longer if you want a darker tone. I posted this easy peasy method a couple years ago

Easter Eggs

Making the Eggs Shiny:

I like shiny things. You can make these shiny by putting oil on a paper towel and rubbing the eggs with it. Now take a picture and impress all of your friends on Instagram (I’d love to see your creation too: @natashaskitchen).

Natural Ester Eggs-7

Oh and one more thing, these make for egg-cellent egg wars (you know, knocking the eggs against each other) I think the trick is to wrap your fingers close to the end you are going to knock. I know it’s early, but Happy Easter Everyone!

Natural Ester Eggs-8

Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

Natural Easter Eggs 3 Ways!

5 from 18 votes
Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 12 eggs
  • 1 pair of nylon stockings OR foil
  • A few sprigs of fresh herbs, parsley, cilantro, etc.
  • 12 white eggs
  • About 1/2 of a plastic grocery bag of yellow onion peels
  • 1/2 Tbsp salt

Instructions

How To:

  • Fill a medium pot with 2/3 of the onion peels and add water until it's about 1/3 full. Boil for 10 minutes to allow the onion to release it's color then add 1/2 Tbsp salt. While this is cooking, start on your eggs.

Method #1: Herb Patterns

  • Note: foil does not hold herbs well enough; if you want the herb prints, you really NEED nylons.
  • Wrap cilantro, parsley or whatever herbs you wish to use around the egg.
  • Pull the stocking over one hand and place the egg over it, grab a hold of the egg with your stocking hand and wrap your fingers around it being careful to keep the herbs from folding or wrinkling. Invert the stocking over the egg then tighten and twist at the base. The stocking should wrap snuggly around the egg to keep the herbs in place.
  • Tie a string around the base to secure the stocking.
  • Boil for 10 minutes making sure the eggs are fully submerged then remove from water, let cool until they are a safe temperature to handle, then use scissors to cut away the stocking. Wipe away herb remains with a paper towel.

Method #2: Marbelized Eggs

  • Wrap each egg with enough onion peels to cover the surface; there should be no white showing.
  • Pull the stocking over your hand and place the egg over it, grab a hold of the egg with your stocking hand and wrap your fingers around it. Invert the stocking over the egg then tighten and twist at the base.
  • Tie a string around the base to secure the stocking.
  • Boil for 10 minutes making sure the eggs are fully submerged then remove from water, let cool until they are a safe temperature to handle, then use scissors to cut away the stocking.

Method #3: Solid Woodsy Colors

  • Cut the eggs into the pot directly with the onion peel; no pantyhose required!
  • Cook 10 minutes (longer if you want a darker tone.

Making the Eggs Shiny:

  • Pour some oil on a paper towel and rub the eggs with it.
Course: Breakfast, Side Dish
Cuisine: Russian, Ukrainian
Keyword: Natural Easter Eggs
Skill Level: Easy/Medium
Cost to Make: $

Natasha Kravchuk

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.

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Comments

  • Nancy
    March 23, 2023

    Are the eggs uncooked before you start or does the cooking/dyeing process cook them?

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      March 23, 2023

      Hi Nancy. The eggs will be boiled in step 5. This is when they cook. 🙂

      Reply

  • Gayle George
    March 23, 2023

    These look so beautiful. I wish you would do a video because I am having a hard time following the instructions. Thanks for all the recipes that you share!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      March 23, 2023

      Hi Gayle. You’re very welcome. Thank you for the feedback and suggestion. 🙂

      Reply

  • Lorrie
    April 1, 2022

    Natasha, I surely appreciate your recipes, your sense of fun, your sweet attitude, and your helpful Husband–keep up the great work!!!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      April 1, 2022

      Aww, You’re so nice! Thank you, Lorrie!

      Reply

  • Tam
    March 27, 2021

    Hi Natasha, I have been dying eggs in onion skins for years. So
    I just want to add that you can regulate intensity of color by amount of onion skins in the pot with water, and by letting eggs cool down in the onion skins. Also if you cook brown eggs in the onion skins, the color would be even richer: red-brown. I used to scrape patterns on those brown eggs. Happy Easter!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      March 27, 2021

      Thank you so much for sharing that with me. Happy Easter!

      Reply

  • JodyW
    March 27, 2021

    I remember my grandmother (Ukrainian) making these, she saved up her onion peels for weeks/months in advance and just put them in the pot with the eggs. She also saved bread of all types that was leftover and let it dry out, then made stuffing for the turkey from breadcrumbs by crushing the dried bread with a rolling pin. Took a lot of elbow grease to do that! But it was delicious!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      March 27, 2021

      It really is the best method! thank you for sharing this with us!

      Reply

  • hposphorescent
    May 9, 2020

    I was suggested this blog by my cousin. I’m not sure whether this post is written byhim as no one else know such detailed about my trouble.You’re incredible! Thanks!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      May 9, 2020

      That’s just awesome! Thank so much for sharing that with me. I’m glad you discover our blog!

      Reply

  • ipttsburgh
    May 1, 2020

    I truly do enjoy writing but it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes are generally lost simply just trying to figure outhow to begin. Any suggestions or hints? Appreciate it!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      May 1, 2020

      We always recommend getting all of your ingredients ready before starting. Most recipes move fast and having it all ready helps the process.

      Reply

  • Barbara
    April 8, 2020

    How do you maintain your cutting board

    Reply

    • Natasha
      April 8, 2020

      Hi Barbara, we have been rubbing it with a little bit of olive oil every time we use it. If you want a specific product, the one by boos blocks is very good and we use it about monthly.

      Reply

  • December
    November 12, 2019

    Very cool… Natural coloring is the way to go. Great job Natasha!

    December

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      November 12, 2019

      Thank you!

      Reply

  • Nadja
    April 5, 2018

    Will be doing this today!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      April 5, 2018

      Awesome! Please let me know how they turn out!

      Reply

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