certified food dyes are fine but even these can include petroleum derivatives. We've found some easy recipes for making your egg dyes with things from around your kitchen that are a whole lot safer -- think onions, beetroot, lemons and carrots.
We found these clever recipes at care2.com and more details can be found there. Some of the dyes are boiled with the eggs (as noted). If you are using juice, just use it straight. Bulky materials will be boiled with the eggs or boiled and allowed to cool for dipping. Don't forget to draw on the eggs with crayon for a batik effect or use rubber bands for lines. Another great idea is to rub your dyed eggs with vegetable oil when dry for a glossy look.
Red
Red onion skins, use a lot (boil with eggs)
Pomegranate juice
Orange
Yellow onion skins (boil with eggs)
Yellow
Lemon or orange peel (boil with eggs)
Carrot tops (boil with eggs)
Celery seed (boil with eggs)
Ground cumin (boil with eggs)
Ground turmeric (boil with eggs)
Yellow Brown
Dill seeds (boil with eggs)
Brown
Strong coffee
Instant coffee
Black walnut shells (boil with eggs)
Yellow Green
Bright green apple peels (boil with eggs)
Green
Spinach leaves (boil with eggs)
Blue
Canned blueberries and their juice
Red cabbage leaves (boil with eggs)
Purple grape juice
Violet Blue
Violet blossoms
Red onion skins, less amount than you need to make red (boil with eggs)
Lavender
Diluted purple grape juice
Violet blossoms plus squeeze of lemon (boil with eggs)
Pink
Beets, fresh or canned
Cranberries or cranberry juice
Raspberries
Red grape juice
