Dyed Potatoes for Easter Eggs (Easter Potatoes)

Skip the expensive price of eggs this year and try Dyed Potatoes for Easter Eggs instead! With just two ingredients and minimal prep, having potatoes instead of eggs for Easter means buying fewer expensive eggs and having lots of fun with the whole family painting potatoes.

Easter Egg Potatoes

Once again egg prices are going through the roof with Easter fast approaching and grocery shoppers are even hoarding them in some parts of the country.

Skip all that drama and change things up this year. Have a little fun by instead making Dyed Potatoes for Easter Eggs. 

I'm not sure how many people would actually try dying potatoes for Easter to use them for egg hunting, but even if you don't try hunting Easter potatoes, this would be a fun way to do a craft with the kids!

Dyed Potatoes

Small potatoes or baby potatoes have sort of an egg shape and and they're a lot of fun to look at! So let's color potatoes for Easter!

You do not have to cook or bake potatoes for Easter Eggs. We're just going to use raw potatoes that can be kept at room temperature and used for Easter Egg hunting. No hard-boiled eggs or plastic eggs for us! This alternative to Easter Eggs is cheap and easy and FUN!

Why You'll Love Dying Potatoes for Easter

Dyeing potatoes for Easter is a fun and unique alternative to traditional eggs! Here’s why you’ll love it:

• Budget-Friendly – Potato prices are often cheaper than real eggs, especially around Easter when egg prices can spike. And less eggs being purchased prevents further price spikes.
• No Fragile Shells – No more worrying about cracked eggs! Potatoes are sturdy and have easier handling for little hands.
• Vibrant Colors – Potatoes absorb dye beautifully, creating bold and unique designs.
• Fun for All Ages – A great activity for kids and adults alike, with less mess and frustration and more fun!
• Versatile & Creative – Try different dyeing techniques for fun effects, like tie-dye or ombré.
• No Boiling Required – Skip the extra step of hard-boiling eggs—just grab some potatoes and start dyeing!

Give it a try this Easter and enjoy a fresh twist on a classic tradition! 

Supplies Needed

• Small Paint Brushes
• Small Bowls (optional)
• Water (optional)
• Paper Towels (optional)
• Rubber Gloves (optional)
• Hairspray (optional)

Ingredients 

You only need 2 ingredients and a few common "tools" that you can find at any local grocery store or big box store!

• Baby Delicious White or Yukon Gold Potatoes - the type of potato is important because you want them small to resemble eggs with softer skins to absorb the food coloring
• Water Based Food Coloring or this kind at Walmart

How to Dye Potatoes for Easter

Be sure to read through the instructions and Pro Tips below for all of the possible options of dying potatoes for Easter.

1. Prepare a few small dishes of water, paper towels, and rubber gloves. The water and paper towels are for cleaning brushes, while the gloves help protect hands from the dye. These aren't required but are highly recommended.
2. Take a potato and place a drop of dye directly on it. Use a paintbrush to spread the dye evenly. You can cover the entire potato in one color or mix multiple colors for a more creative look.
3. Depending on the potato’s size, you may need to add another drop of dye, but a little goes a long way.
4. Place potatoes on a paper towel lined cookie sheet or shallow baking pan and let them dry for 10 minutes. 
5. For best results, use this secret Ingredient: if you want to prevent the dye from rubbing off later, spray a light coating of hairspray over them and let them dry for a few more minutes. Enjoy!

Pro Tips

• If your potatoes are dirty, wash them under cold water using a brush and then pat dry before starting the dye process.
• Gel dye never fully dries, so it's not recommended. If you use it, apply a very thin layer and let the potatoes dry overnight.
• We tested dyeing potatoes with the Kool-Aid method and the traditional egg-dyeing method (using dye, water, and vinegar in a cup). Neither worked well—the color was too faint and unappealing.
• Another method we tried was wrapping a coffee filter tightly around a potato, securing it with a rubber band, then applying drops of water-based food coloring to the filter. After drying for 10 minutes, the result was a cute tie-dye effect, but it wasn’t as vibrant as the paintbrush method.
• If using hairspray, the potatoes should not be eaten, but it helps seal the color.
• Do not peel the potatoes—this makes them wet and gooey, creating a messy but beautifully colored result.
• White and gold potatoes took the dye best, and baby potatoes were the perfect size for little hands.

Easter Game Idea

If you want to still have your Easter Egg tradition but want to take advantage of the money-saving idea, mix in some potatoes with plastic eggs or some real hard boiled eggs and have prizes for the kids that find the dyed potatoes for Easter! 

​More Easter Ideas

• Why Choose Natural Easter Eggs Dyes this Spring?
• How to Make Cool Whip Easter Eggs
• Easter Eggs Dyed with Blackberries
• Easter Eggs Dyed with Turmeric
• Easter Eggs Dyed with Beets
• Easter Eggs Dyed with Black Tea