There are many traditions and memories from my childhood that the holidays always make me think of. As a grown up with children of my own, I am carrying on traditions and creating special memories I hope my children will hold dear for a lifetime. One very special memory from when I was a little girl is my grandmother creating the most beautiful eggs for us each Easter. I remember being fascinated with the rich golden color and how unique each eggs pattern was. As a young child I had no idea those special eggs were Onion Skin Dyed Easter Eggs!
Onion Skin Easter Eggs Tutorial
This tutorial for how to dye Easter eggs with onion skins is for yellow onions and it will yield yellow-orangish eggs when you start with white eggs. However, red onions will also work in the same way and perfect for how to dye eggs red naturally.
I use white eggs here because it is easiest to see the results of the natural onion skin dye. You can use brown eggs but, of course the yellow will be more of a dark orange and the red will be more or an reddish-brown.
Supplies:
- 12 uncooked eggs
- 10 onion skins
- cheese cloth
- small rubber bands
How To Make Onion Skin Eggs:
Begin by soaking your onion skins in water until soft. I know ahead of time that I am going to do onion skin dyed eggs so I begin saving the skins a few weeks in advance. Depending on how many eggs you will be making you can often find loose skins in the bottom of your onion bag or even pick them up at the super market.
Next cut the cheese cloth into small squares, approximately 4″ x 4″.
Once your skins are soft begin wrapping them around your uncooked eggs. The way that the skin lays against the egg will create your pattern. Some onion skin has a more striped appearance and pieces from near the tops and bottoms of the onion will offer a different pattern. Layer the skins on carefully remembering that the eggs are raw and fragile.
Tightly, but carefully, wrap the skin covered egg in cheese cloth. Use a small rubber bands to secure the cheese cloth. Repeat until all of your eggs are covered.
Cooking And Dying Eggs At The Same Time
When all of your eggs are wrapped carefully place them in a large pot. Cover with water and bring to a boil over high heat. Once the water has reached a rolling boil turn the heat off completely. Cover the pan and leave eggs in the water for 12 minutes. Transfer the eggs to a strainer and run cold water over them for several minutes.
Once the eggs are cool enough to handle carefully remove the cheese cloth and onion skin. Set the eggs aside and allow them to finish cooling.
*If the color is not deep enough transfer the water they were boiled in to a bowl. Return the eggs to the water and store in the refrigerator until the color deepens.
After the eggs have cooled store them in the refrigerator until ready to use or display. You can rub the shells with a little bit of olive oil to give them a bit of shine if you plan to display them at Easter dinner!
What I knew as a little girl was how amazing my grandmother was and how creative and talented she was. What I didn’t know then was that this method of coloring eggs was an old Easter tradition from her childhood and a very frugal way to create something special!
Onion skins might otherwise go to waste. Now you know that they can be used as a natural day. What other creative ways have you used to decorate Easter eggs? Have you ever tried dying eggs with natural dyes before? Do you think you will try this recipe for onion skin dyed Easter Eggs?
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