My son stopped hunting Easter eggs years ago, but I still dye a dozen every year. It's a tradition just like the bunny shaped cake I make for dessert. I've always used an egg dyeing kit, but not anymore.
A couple of weeks ago, I saw something on the Wilton website about using gel icing color to dye eggs. I thought this was a great idea -- I could create the exact shades I wanted -- so I decided to give it a try. I'm glad I did because these are the prettiest eggs I've ever dyed!
Gel icing color is a concentrated paste sold in small jars in a variety of colors. It produces richer, more vibrant colors and, because it's concentrated, a little dab will do!
These are the colors I used
If you've never worked with gel icing color, the most important thing to remember is to use a toothpick to remove the gel from the jar.
If you need more color, use another toothpick and repeat the process. This keeps the gel from getting contaminated which is important when you're dipping the toothpick into frosting. In this case, it keeps the gel from getting diluted with water.
Unlike kits that use lemon juice or vinegar to dissolve tablets, the gel is dissolved in very hot water. If you're like me and don't have an instant hot water dispenser, turn the hot water on and let it run until the faucet feels hot to the touch. Pour 3/4 cup water into a container -- I use clear plastic disposable cups -- and add the desired amount of gel.
Stir until the gel is dissolved.
Stir in one tablespoon of white vinegar and add the boiled egg.
Let the egg sit in the cup until it reaches the desired color. Remove the egg and let dry. I put the eggs back in the egg carton to dry and stored them in the refrigerator.
I definitely plan to dye eggs this way again next year. In the meantime, I need to decide whether to use these for deviled eggs or egg salad sandwiches.
© Margaret's Morsels
