May we introduce you to tie-dye eggs? All you need to make these patterned beauties is baking soda, vinegar, and gel food coloring. If those materials give you flashbacks to science-fair volcanoes, you’re not far off. It’s this fizzing combination of baking soda and vinegar that distributes the food coloring into a graphic pattern reminiscent of tie-dye. These multicolored eggs are pretty on their own, but there’s a way to add another layer of gorgeous design: Drizzle the shells with rubber cement before dyeing them. This will create a white pattern beneath the colors for eye-catching contrast. Before you get started, keep in mind that hard-boiled eggs should only be out of the refrigerator for two hours if you’re planning to eat them. And while the baking soda- and vinegar-dyed eggs are perfectly safe to eat, you should skip the ones drizzled with rubber cement.
How to Make Baking Soda-Dyed Eggs
Supplies Needed
EggsRubber cementGlass bowlBaking sodaWaterSpoonMuffin tinPaintbrushesRubber glovesMeasuring spoonVinegar
Step-by-Step Directions
Follow these easy instructions to make colorful tie-dyed Easter eggs. You should be able to dye a dozen eggs in under an hour.
Step 1: Prepare Eggs
First, hard boil eggs and set them aside to cool. When you’re ready to dye them, open a jar of rubber cement ($4, Walmart), and use the brush to drizzle glue onto the eggs. Once you’re done dyeing the eggs, you’ll be able to peel the rubber cement off to reveal a white pattern underneath the tie-dye. Editor’s Tip: The application of rubber cement means these eggs will not be edible. If you plan to eat the eggs, skip this step and just use the baking soda and vinegar technique below.
Step 2: Create a Dye Mix
Use a spoon to mix ⅓ cup of baking soda with a tablespoon of water, then add 3 drops of food coloring ($4, Walmart). Stir until the mixture forms a paste-like consistency. Repeat this process to prepare as many colors of paste as you like. We used three colors on each egg (red, yellow, and blue) to achieve the tie-dye look we were going for.
Step 3: Brush Mix on Eggs
Once you’ve mixed your pastes, place one egg in each compartment of a metal muffin tin. Use a foam crafts paintbrush to apply multiple colors of paste onto each egg. You’ll want to wear protective rubber gloves ($5 for two pairs, Walmart) for this part. The baking soda paste will add color to each dyed egg, but you can make them even more vibrant by dropping extra gel food dye onto the eggs for concentrated bursts of color.
Step 4: Add Vinegar
When each egg is coated in baking soda paste and food dye, it’s time to make the magic happen. Use a dropper or measuring spoon to dribble small amounts of vinegar onto each egg; the reaction between the vinegar and baking soda will bubble and create the tie-dye look. After all the baking soda has dissolved, dip each egg in water to clean it, then peel off the rubber cement to expose the white areas. Display your finished Easter egg decorations as part of a festive spring centerpiece or use them during your Easter egg hunt!
