Everybody loves coloring Easter eggs, but let’s be real — dunking eggs in food coloring every year can get a little tired. If you and your kids are looking for something a little more interesting this year, DIY golden Easter eggs will totally do the trick.
It’s all about the metallic gold leaf treatment. It really takes things up a notch — and makes those eggs look all kinds of fancy. Don’t be intimidated by the leafing process — it looks hard, but the application is actually really easy and pretty much error-proof, even for children.
More: Easter Games for Kids That Go Beyond the Same Old Egg Hunt
While these eggs are undoubtedly beautiful and deserve a prime spot on your kitchen countertop this Easter, they are also surprisingly easy to make with kids. If you’re already planning to dye Easter eggs in pastel hues, you can use the marbling instructions in this tutorial to make colorful golden eggs that are truly one of a kind.
Supplies:
- Foam block (mine was 12 x 6 inches)
- 48 toothpicks
- Dozen white eggs
- Set of food coloring
- White vinegar
- Heatproof jars (large and deep enough to dip eggs into)
- Metal spoon
- Leafing kit (found at the craft store in the framing section)
If you cannot find a leafing kit, you’ll also need:
- Metallic gold leaf
- Size (glue-like liquid for applying gold leaf)
- Leafing sealer (optional)
- Foam brush
- Masking tape for cleaning up metal leaf remnants
Directions:
1. Hard-boil a dozen white eggs, or empty each one out using an egg blower tool. To boil, gently place eggs into a pot, then cover with enough cold water so that the eggs are submerged 1 inch deep. Bring the water to a boil, and simmer for 1 minute. Next, remove from the heat, cover with the lid, and let the eggs sit for 15 minutes. Gently scoop the eggs out of the water with a slotted spoon, and let them cool in a colander.
2. While the eggs are cooking, boil a small pot of water for the dye.
3. As you’re waiting for the eggs and pot of water to boil, construct a drying rack with a foam block and toothpicks. Space the toothpicks about an inch apart. Every 4 toothpicks balances 1 egg, so you will need a total of 48 toothpicks.
4. To each jar, add 2 tablespoons of white vinegar, and double the amount of food coloring drops indicated on the packaging (I followed the instructions for teal and dusty rose). Carefully scoop out a cup of just-boiled water from the small pot, and pour it into one of the jars. Fill the other jars the same way.
5. Carefully place a hard-boiled egg on a spoon, and gently lower it into jar. It helps to hold the jar at an angle as you’re dipping the egg in. The amount of time you leave the egg in the dye will vary depending on how deep and saturated you want the colors to be. I left my eggs in for less than a minute.
Next Up:Finish your golden Easter eggs
Updated by Sarah Long 3/21/17
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