I don’t recall ever having plastic eggs for Easter when I was growing up. Maybe there were some filled ones in our baskets, but hunting Easter eggs was always done with real eggs. In fact, I’m sure there are hours of home videos hidden away featuring my brothers and me spending hours dyeing eggs. Those holiday traditions are some of my fondest memories. However, as a mother of three little girls, I have struggled each year when it comes to Easter. It sneaks up on me (especially years where it lands in March), and I end up filling some plastic eggs the night before Easter and calling it ‘done’. However, the mom guilt eventually kicks in and I realize that I’m depriving my daughters of creating those memories that I grew up with.
While I usually take projects ‘above and beyond’, that is not what this is about. Easter eggs should be fun, enjoyable, and stress free. That is why I want to share some of my tips and tricks for prepping your eggs, along with some links to unique and creative (along with easy and mess-free) ways for your children to decorate them.
PREP:
- Buy your eggs ahead of time. Eggs that are 7-10 days old are easier to peel.
- Save up some newspaper. (We get a paper once a week and I always save it for messy projects)
- Collect any supplies you will need depending on what decorating method you plan to use.
COOKING THE EGGS:
There are two ways I recommend cooking your eggs: boil or bake in the oven.
Boil:
Place eggs in a large pot. Add enough cold water to cover eggs by 1 inch. Add 1/2tsp baking soda to the water to help peel eggs if you plan on eating them. Bring the pot to a boil. Once it has reached a boil, remove from heat, cover, and let sit for 10-12 minutes. Drain and place eggs in ice cold water to stop cooking.
Pros – Unless you forget about them and they end up overcooking/breaking open, these should result in pretty white eggs.
Cons – Slightly more labor intensive than oven method.
Oven:
Place eggs in a muffin tray. Bake at 325 for 25-30 minutes. Remove from oven and use tongs to place eggs in a bowl of ice water to cool down.
Pros – Quick and easy with minimal cleanup
Cons – The shell can discolor or get brown spots/bumps.
DYEING EGGS:
(More methods listed below)
- Cover table/workspace in newspaper or plastic tablecloth
- To make your own dye: mix ½ cup simmering water with 1 tsp white vinegar. Add food coloring to reach desired color.
- For little kids: gently place egg inside a flexible whisk to help little hands with dipping. (Have you watched a toddler try to use one of those bent wire thingies?! They will eventually just put them in the dye with their hands…. so maybe add disposable gloves to your supply list!)
- Dry in muffin tins — it keeps them from rolling around and also allows for more space for drying than egg cartons.
HIDING EGGS:
- Count how many eggs you are hiding before you hide them and WRITE IT DOWN.
- Unless you’re hiding eggs in obvious spots for a toddler to find, I urge you to make a list of where you put them! In the middle of the night you might think you’ll remember where they all are, but you may not…. and a week later when you start to smell that missing egg, you’ll REALLY wish you made a list.
- I’m a sucker for a good hard-boiled egg or deviled egg. However, if you plan on eating your eggs, be aware of where you hide them. I hide plastic eggs outside and real eggs inside where I don’t have to worry about the elements.
Looking for alternatives to traditional dying? Maybe you want something quicker/easier? Or, maybe your children are older and you’re looking for something more adventurous. Check out these ideas for inspiration!
OTHER EGG-DYEING METHODS:
MESS FREE
Skip the dye all together and use stickers, adhesive rhinestones, temporary tattoos, and washi tape to embellish your eggs!
ALMOST MESS FREE
EASY DYE METHODS
ADVANCED EGGS
Happy egg-dyeing, and have an {EGG}cellent Easter!
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