How to Dye Easter Eggs
I have always loved Araucana eggs ever since Martha Stewart shared them in her magazine. Since I can’t have chickens, I figured out how to dye Easter eggs in the same beautiful Ameraucana, Araucana, and Easter Egger chicken egg colors.
The Ameraucana chicken, as well as the Easter Egger, lay the most beautiful colored eggs. As much as I would love to own chickens, my husband has said no. And to be truthful, we really don’t have space for them.
This year, I decided it would be a lot easier to dye easter eggs that look just like eggs laid by an Ameraucana and Easter Egger.
All About Colored Eggs
Where did I first learn that there were chickens who laid gorgeous blue, pink and green eggs?
From Martha Stewart, of course!
I will never forget the cover of her Martha Stewart Living magazine and the beautiful color of her eggs! I became obsessed with her eggs, as did the rest of America. Martha eventually introduced a paint line featuring some of the colors of eggs and pretty much coined the term “Robin’s Egg Blue”. At one time she had three different colors in the Robin’s Egg Blue palette.
Of course, I immediately wanted the exact same chickens to lay beautiful blue eggs for me every day. But I couldn’t make that happen since I was living in an apartment back then.
But I did do some research.
Ameraucana and Araucana chickens lay blue (not lavender) eggs. Easter Egger chickens also lay blue eggs – but they can also lay brown, green, or even pink eggs.
I came up with a blue and green palette to dye my eggs.
Here are my dyed Easter Eggs. Aren’t these incredible colors?
Now, I didn’t try to get the colors to match perfectly. Instead, I mixed a few gel food colors that I thought would fit in the color palette and colors that I loved.
Not necessarily in that order.
I basically mixed colors that I loved. That’s what I think you should do too!
I hard boiled the eggs first and I just love how they came out!
There are so many ways to display Easter eggs. I can’t wait to set a table with them.
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How to Dye Easter Eggs
The trick to getting great colors for your eggs is to use good dyes. The dyes that come in the easter egg coloring kits are very limed. The food coloring you can buy at the grocery store are also very basic colors.
I decided to use the gel food colorings I use for my Royal Icing recipe.
Gel or gel paste food coloring is much thicker than liquid food colors and the colors are more concentrated and more vibrant.
There are lots of different brands of gel food colorings. These two are my favorites.
Wilton Icing Colors – Click here for a color chart.
AmeriColor – Click here for a color chart.
This is my box of colors. You can see below the six colors I selected to use.
Here is the important thing to realize. You only need a few colors. I mixed my colors and I also left some eggs in the colors longer for a darker tint. I also placed a few eggs in one color and then put it in another color as well.
My tip on how to dye easter eggs is to play with colors and have fun.
What You Need to Dye Eater Eggs
- One dozen hard-boiled eggs
- boiling water
- gel food coloring
- white vinegar
Fill glass jars with one cup of boiling water. Add two teaspoons of white vinegar. Add a few drops of the gel food coloring to each jar. Stir until gel is absorbed.
Gently lower an egg into the jar and let set for a few minutes. Stir the contents gently to make sure the dye doesn’t pool on the bottom of the egg.
Check the color and remove when desired. Feel free to mix colors and/or “double dye” eggs in multiple colors.
Lay on a cookie rack with a cookie sheet and paper towel underneath. Let dry for a few minutes.
Refrigerate until needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ameraucana and Araucana chickens lay blue eggs while Easter Egger kitchens lay blue, brown, green, or even pink eggs. Araucana and Ameraucana chickens are pure breeds and Easter Egger chickens are hybrids.
Yes you can. Just don’t forget they can easily break and cause a mess so it is safer to hard boil them first.
Brown eggs are just as easy to dye as white eggs. The colors vary a bit but the colors are often beautiful.
Two of my blogger friends joined me today sharing Easter Eggs.
Paint these DIY Robins Eggs for fun and easy spring or Easter decorations.
Here is a fun way to decorate plastic Easter eggs. This Easter craft is an easy way to decorate Easter eggs. And it’s a perfect Easter egg decoration for a school project for kids.
Links to the Items Shown in This Post
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Love your blog! I just made the pinecone flowers from your spring wreath this weekend. I love these egg colors! I can see Moss and Taupe on the bottle labels in your photos, but none of the others. Can you share the rest of the colors you chose for this project? Thanks.
Beautiful and pinned! When I saw your opening picture of the eggs on the cake stands, I thought, that looks just like a Martha Stewart picture.
Well that is a huge compliment, thank you Miche!
Pretty colors, much nicer than the old garish colors. Love the blue and green muted theme. We first met Aracauna chickens at our friends home in the early 70’s in northern California. They had chickens and a few cute Nubian goats. I was amazed that chickens might lay colored eggs. Have been a fan ever since. After many egg years I no longer dye eggs, thanks goodness pottery barn has furnished us with some lovely blue speckled faux eggs for easter decor 🙂
Thank goodness for Pottery Barn!
These turned out beautiful! I have to try this because the colors are perfect.
Those look great! We have had Ameraucanas in the past and they were my favorite. They laid the prettiest shades of pale blue/pale green eggs. We also had those tiny ones, Bantam Chickens. Their eggs were so cute to dye at Easter! They were about half the size of a regular egg. T
And much easier for the kiddos to handle too.
Can you please share the exact names of the gel colors and the brand? These are stunning and I can’t wait to dye eggs for our Easter family gathering!!
I believe we are kindred spirits. Martha introduced me to these beautiful eggs but I could never find a farmer who had them until one day a few years later. I remember bringing them home as if they were the
the most precious most expensive objet d’art! Lol. Four years ago I brought my daughters mother in law
to their annual Easter do blue and green eggs in a white old Fitz & Floyd white basket. After it was established that they were not dyed most of the guests were gathered around this basket ahh-ing reminding me of years ago when I brought home my first dozen. Best gift I ever gave!
Wow, beautiful! I thought I knew how to dye eggs, but I see now that I been doing it all wrong. I love how fabulous your eggs look, but I am not surprised, because everything you post is fabulous
Aren’t these colors amazing? I love how these turned out!
Just beautiful love the colors! Also want to thank you for the box to send to a friend that’s not feeling their best, what a great and nice ideal, I am for sure going to do this, thanks
I am so in love with these colors Debbie! I am so glad that you enjoyed what I shared on the Feel Better, Get Better, I Care About You Box! Have a great day!
Your styling is very Martha Stewart. I always think that you have such gorgeous styling and could give Martha a challenge. Every image you post is stunning.
Oh my gosh, that is such a huge compliment Ruth. Martha Stewart is the ultimate queen when it comes to styling! Thank you for reaching out. Have a great day!
Could you use these on wooden eggs? What colors did you use?
Loved all the colors!
Still waiting for an answer to the colors you used to dye the eggs.
I used those 6 blues and greens from the Wilton Icing Colors that I linked at the bottom of the blog. The 6 are pictured in the middle of the blog! Let me know if you need anymore help!