How to Dye Easter Eggs with Onions
The process of dying Easter Eggs with onion peels is so simple and creates gorgeous Easter eggs for decorating and eating. My secret tool to get beautiful designs on the shells? Pantyhose! If you aren't doing prints, you can easily use aluminum foil or just put them directly in the water for woodsy hues. I've included directions on how to make different designs on the Easter Eggs, so grab your family and try this Easter tradition.
Ingredients
- 1 pair nylon stockings, or foil
- A few sprigs of fresh herbs, parsley, cilantro, etc.
- 12 white eggs, room temperature*
- About 1/2 of a plastic grocery bag of yellow onion peels
- 1/2 Tbsp salt
Instructions
Make Natural Easter Egg Dye with Onion Peels:
- 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 its color, then add 1/2 Tbsp salt. While this is cooking, start prepping your eggs.
Method #1: Herb Patterns
- 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 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 snugly around the egg to keep the herbs in place. *Note: foil does not hold herbs well enough; if you want the herb prints, you NEED nylons.
- Tie a string around the base to secure the stocking.
- Boil for 10 minutes making sure the eggs are fully submerged. Then, remove them from the water, and let them cool until they are at 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.
- Cover with a stocking and secure as instructed above, or wrap in foil to keep the onion peel in place.
- Boil the eggs for 10 minutes, keeping them completely submerged, then remove. Once cool enough to handle, cut away stocking, or remove foil if using.
Method #3: Solid Woodsy Colors
- Put the eggs into the pot directly with the onion peel; no pantyhose/foil are required! Cook for 10 minutes (or longer if you want a darker tone).
Making the Eggs Shiny:
- Pour some oil on a paper towel and rub the eggs with it.
Notes
*starting with room-temperature eggs will result in less cracking when you put them into boiling water.
Storage: If you plan to eat the eggs, refrigerate within 2 hours for up to 1 week.
Nutrition Facts
How to Dye Easter Eggs with Onions
Amount per Serving
Calories
63
% Daily Value*
Fat
4
g
6
%
Saturated Fat
1
g
6
%
Trans Fat
0.02
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
1
g
Monounsaturated Fat
2
g
Cholesterol
164
mg
55
%
Sodium
353
mg
15
%
Potassium
61
mg
2
%
Carbohydrates
0.3
g
0
%
Sugar
0.2
g
0
%
Protein
6
g
12
%
Vitamin A
238
IU
5
%
Calcium
25
mg
3
%
Iron
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
