Ukrainian Easter Eggs Dyed with Onion Skins (VIDEO)

Happy Easter a day early!! He is risen!! I'm not sure how to say on many languages, but in the Ukrainian it's Христос воскрес! (Khrystos voskres!)

And the traditional response is: Воістину воскрес! (Voistynu voskres!) — meaning "Truly, He is risen!".

In this video, that I published last year, I’m sharing something very close to my heart — how we prepare our Easter basket, step by step, just like my mother and grandmother used to do. Whether this is your first time putting one together or you're continuing a cherished tradition, this is a beautiful way to bring meaning and joy to your celebration.

My family last year an one hour before Easter midnight service.

You’ll see me carefully choosing and arranging the foods, wrapping them with love, and tucking them into a linen-lined basket for our midnight Easter service.

What's Inside the Basket:

• Paskha (Easter bread): The centerpiece — golden, sweet, and baked with love. Here is recipe for it.

• Hard-boiled eggs: Dyed naturally, symbolizing new life.

• Salt & butter: Essential staples of life, always present.

• Kielbasa (sausage): A hearty reminder of celebration and abundance.

• Cheese or Syr (farmer’s cheese): Mild, fresh, and simple. Here is link to the recipe how to make it.

• Horseradish with beets (khrin): A bold mix of sweet and spicy, symbolizing both suffering and joy.

• A candle: To be lit at the service, representing Christ's light and resurrection.

• A beautiful embroidered towel (rushnyk, my mom brought me from Ukraine): Used to wrap or cover the basket — often handmade or passed down.

Each item in the basket carries symbolism, story, and soul, and I talk about each one in the video as I place it gently in the basket.

One of the biggest traditions a few days before Easter is to do Eggs.

Easter Eggs Dyed with Onion Skins.

Easter Eggs Dyed with Onion Skins is a beautiful and traditional natural method, and has been around for hundreds of years. It gives the eggs a rich reddish-brown color, and you can even add herbs or leaves for a marbled or botanical effect. Onion peels are a chemical free.

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 Why you should avoid conventional egg dyes

"While commercial egg dyes are quick and colorful, I love using natural ingredients like onion peels or red cabbage. Not only do they create stunning, earthy tones — they're safer, more sustainable, and feel like a celebration of spring itself."

Artificial dyes (like Red 40, Yellow 5, etc.) can leach into eggs, especially when warm or left too long.

Some people are sensitive to food dyes — they may cause allergic reactions or behavioral issues in children (linked in some studies).

Artificial dyes are often petroleum-based and not biodegradable.

Natural dyes (like onion skins, turmeric, red cabbage) are safer for both people and the planet.

Natural egg dyeing using onion peels, beets, blueberries, or red cabbage is deeply rooted in folk traditions, especially in Eastern Europe, where I'm from.

It’s a beautiful way to connect with nature and teach kids about food, plants, and history.

Natural dyes create earthy, elegant tones — from soft blues to golden ambers and deep burgundy.

Every egg turns out a little different every time — like a mini art piece!

Naturally Dyed Easter Eggs with Onion Peels

Here is what You’ll Need:

• 12–16 white or light brown eggs (I had a few green eggs as well).

• Peels from 22 yellow onions (red onion peels give purples, but yellow peels give warm reds/browns, I used a mix)

• 4–5 cups water (or just enough to cover the onion peels)

• 2-3 tablespoons vinegar of your choice I used apple cider vinegar

• 2-3 tablespoons of any oil

• Optional: fresh herbs (like parsley, small leaves, flowers, string or twist ties)

Directions for Easter Eggs Dyed with Onion Skins:

onion peels

1. Prepare the Onion Dye

• Place onion skins in a large pot with water.

• Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 20 minutes.

• The longer it simmers, the deeper the color. Then turn off and let it cool to room temperature.

2. (Optional I didn't do it in the video) Leaf Print Method

• Place a small herb leaf or flower directly onto an egg.

• Wrap the egg in a piece of pantyhose or cheesecloth tightly to hold the leaf in place. Secure with string or twist tie.

3. Dye the Eggs

• Gently place raw eggs into the pot with the onion dye.

• Add vinegar to the pot (this helps the dye stick to the shell).

• Simmer for 10–15 minutes, or until eggs reach your desired shade.

• For deeper color, let the eggs soak in the dye (off of heat) for a few hours or overnight in the fridge.

4. Cool and Dry

• Remove eggs and let them dry on a paper towel or drying rack.

• Once dry, you can rub a little oil on them with a soft cloth for a beautiful shine.

Notes and Tips

• You can mix red and yellow onion skins for richer tones.

• For marbled eggs, wrap onion peels directly around the eggs and secure with cloth before boiling.

• Use white eggs for brighter color contrast, though brown eggs give more earthy tones, but blue eggs, if you can find them, I think work best.

MORE RECIPES FOR EASTER FEAST:

Paskha (Kulich) Eastern European Easter Bread

Herbs Infused Roasted Leg of Lamb

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