How to Naturally Dye Easter Eggs Blue

In this post, I will show you how to naturally dye Easter eggs using blueberries to achieve a stunning blue colour. I will also share a few simple tips for creating different shades and looks and how to give your eggs a touch of elegance with edible gold leaf for a polished finish.

Ingredients/Supplies

3 cups (450 g / 1 lb) blueberries (fresh or frozen) for a royal blue colour; for a sky blue colour, use 3 cups (450 g / 1 lb) shredded red cabbage as a dye. Simply boil the cabbage in water and use the same technique as described below. The resulting colour will be a lighter, softer blue, perfect for a fresh and delicate spring look.
3 cups (~ 700 ml) water
3 Tbsp white vinegar
6 white eggs (or as many as you’d like to dye)
paper towels
cooking oil (to buff the eggs)
Edible gold leaf sheets (for a more elegant touch)

Directions

You can watch this video to see how to dye the eggs or read the instructions below.

Add the blueberries (or chopped red cabbage) and water to a medium-sized saucepan.

Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat and let it simmer, covered so that the liquid does not evaporate.

As soon as the blueberry mixture starts boiling, place your eggs in a pot and boil them for 3 minutes. By that time, your blueberry mixture would have simmered for about 15-20 minutes. You’ll notice the liquid will begin to darken as the blueberries release their natural pigments.

Add 3 tablespoons of white vinegar to the liquid, which helps set the colour on the eggs. Remove the blueberries from the liquid with a spoon or a strainer and add the hot eggs into the hot blueberry dye. Let everything simmer, covered, for 5 more minutes. Adding hot eggs to the blueberry dye and allowing it to boil for a few more minutes can help the eggs absorb more colour. The heat can make the pores of the eggshell expand slightly, allowing the dye to penetrate more effectively, which can result in a deeper, richer colour.

Remove it from the heat and allow the eggs to cool in the liquid for 40 minutes or longer. The longer you leave the eggs in the dye, the darker the colour will become. The liquid should cover the eggs fully. If it’s not, transfer the eggs and dye liquid to a narrower pot or jar. Or, add one more egg as the extra weight and volume will help raise the level of the dye liquid in the saucepan. You can also leave the eggs in the dye in the fridge overnight for a darker royal blue colour.

You can easily re-use the blueberry dye for as many eggs as you want. Simply remove the dyed eggs and bring the dye to a boil again. Add hot eggs that were previously boiled for 3 minutes and let everything simmer on low for 5 more minutes before turning off the heat.

Keep in mind that each new batch of eggs added to the dye will generally be lighter than the first, especially if you’ve already dyed several eggs. However, you can always leave them in the dye for a longer period to achieve a deeper colour.

If you want your eggs to have a shiny and darker, more royal blue hue, buff the eggs with a small amount of cooking oil. Simply use a paper towel to gently rub the oil onto the surface of the eggs. The oil gives the eggs a smooth, glossy finish and deepens the colour.

To elevate your dyed eggs even further, you can add edible gold leaf. Gently apply small pieces of gold leaf to your eggs for a refined and elegant look. It’s a simple way to add a luxurious touch to your Easter celebrations.