If you’d like to follow the ancient European tradition of coloring Easter eggs at home, you’re in the right place. This simple method uses food coloring and a paper towel (or cotton) to create a beautifully colored Easter egg basket with minimal effort. Let me show you how I do it at home.
Coloring Easter eggs in Europe is a tradition that combines ancient spring rituals with Christian symbolism. Long before Christianity, eggs were seen as a symbol of new life and rebirth after winter. As Christianity spread, the egg became associated with the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Throughout Europe, different colors and patterns often carry special meanings, such as protection, love, or prosperity. The tradition also developed from the medieval practice of abstaining from eggs during Lent and celebrating their return at Easter. Today, most people would color egg due to either religious meaning, simple tradition following or fun for the kids.
In many European countries, stores sell Easter dye kits for coloring eggs with different colors coming out at the end – some more glossy, others pearly or shiny.
Behind the Bites
In Bulgaria, the eggs are traditionally dyed on Holy Thursday (or Holy Saturday), with the first egg always colored red to symbolize the blood of Christ and protection for the home. This first red egg is often kept near the family’s icons until the next Easter.
On Easter day, family members gently tap eggs in a ritual called “egg fighting,” and the person whose egg remains uncracked is believed to have health and good luck throughout the year. While red is the most symbolic color, many households also dye eggs in bright, festive colors and decorate them with natural leaves, wax patterns, or modern techniques.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Eggs – preferably white in color, as the colors are much brighter afterwards.
- Water – for boiling eggs in.
- Food coloring of choice – either liquid or powdered. If needed follow instructions on how to make it liquid.
- A paper towel – or cotton – for coloring
- A wrack _ or the egg box – on which the wrapped eggs will be placed
NOTE: I use a thin towel for boiling the eggs into the pot, as it creates a cushion around them and supposedly keeps them from cracking.
How to make homemade Dyed Eggs?
1st: Prepare the eggs by hard-boiling them on the stove top. Color the eggs while they are still hot if needed. I place a thin towel at the bottom of the pot, then arrange the eggs on top. Next, I fold the towel over the eggs to cushion them during cooking.
2nd: Prepare the food coloring (egg dye) – should be liquid. Then sprinkle the paper towel (placed on foil to prevent your countertops from coloring too) with different drops of the food coloring. Place the egg in the middle and wrap tightly. Leave to sit for about an hour. Remove the paper towels and let eggs air dry.
TIP: To make eggs shinier, soak a cotton pad with some olive oil and gently brush the eggs on all sides. Leave in a cool place (but not the fridge as the dye may come off) and enjoy on Easter day.
Easy Dyed Easter Eggs (European)
Equipment
- 1 large soup pan with lid
- 1 thin towel
Ingredients
- 12 medium eggs, white
- food coloring egg dye of choice
- large soft paper towels, or cotton
- kitchen foil, for wrapping
Instructions
- First, start by pacing a thin small towel at the bottom of a clean soup pan. The towel should be large enough to cover the eggs on all sides.
- Then, place previously washed eggs in the pot, on the towel, fold the towel over the eggs, so they are covered completely. The towel helps cushion the eggs and prevents them from cracking during cooking.
- Cover the eggs with cold water and bring to a boil. Boil for 7-10 minutes, or until eggs are hard boiled.
- Next, prepare the egg dye of choice (see notes too). Then, place kitchen foil onto the table, then layer it with two paper towels (or one if too thick).
- Sprinkle the paper towel with all the different colors. Then place one egg in the middle and cover with the edges of the paper on all sides. The paper should stick to the egg shells well. Same can be done with cotton.
- Gently place the covered egg onto a cooling wrack (or the egg box as I do) and leave to sit anywhere between 40 min and an hour. Repeat for all remaining eggs.
- Then, remove the colored paper and let the egg shell air dry. With a cotton slightly greased with olive oil, brush the egg shell to make it shinier. Repeat for all remaining eggs.
- Store in a cool place (not fridge) and consume on Easter day.
Notes
Nutrition
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Brilliant idea
Brilliant idea, I must try it this Easter.