Easy Ukrainian Easter Eggs Pysanky

These easy Ukrainian easter eggs – Pysanky – are created with some simple tools and techniques. This method is for the whole family and even little kids can give it a try. 

Each year when Easter comes around, I am reminded of my childhood in Ukraine. This holiday is steeped in centuries-old traditions and memories. When I was little, I had no knowledge or experience of the Easter Bunny or the Egg Hunt. I got to enjoy a lot of hard-boiled eggs instead. Everyone you meet and greet on Easter day with “The Christ has Risen” would reply “Risen Indeed” and give you a colourful egg. I try to keep Easter traditions alive in my own family now too. No matter how busy I get, the urge to cook, bake, and colour eggs blow away everything else.

Pysanky are the traditional Ukrainian Easter eggs decorated using the wax resist method. First, hot wax gets applied to the eggshell with a few special tools. Then the egg is dipped into a series of dye baths to give it some colour, while the wax-covered areas resist the dye and preserve its original colour. Using this method, people create the most intricate designs and patterns.

Onion Peel Dye

My grandma would dye her easter eggs in onion peel. She would set aside some peels in bags before Easter and have collections of them specifically for this purpose. I like to make the dye using regular yellow onion peel as well as some red onion peel to create different shades of red.

To make onion peel dye you need the following:

1. Cover onion peels with water in a medium pot. Bring it to a boil and cook for 30 minutes. 
2. Add a few teaspoons of white vinegar (this is done to deepen the colour).
3. Allow the mixture to cool down.

Tools To Make Easy Ukrainian Easter Eggs – Pysanky

Traditionally Pysanky are made using a special tool called kistka, a small funnel with a tiny hole at the end, which is used to heat up the wax and then apply it to the egg in the areas where you want to preserve the egg’s colour. The wax will act as a barrier and prevent the dye from penetrating those areas. Making Pysanky eggs using kistka tool is a time-consuming and intricate process that requires patience and skill.

I came across another much more simple method on Sophie’s Instagram using some tools that you might already have in the house to create easy designs for Pysanky eggs. This method is easy enough for kids to try and mine surely joined me. I loved making Pysanky eggs with my kids. It was a fun and educational activity that helped me teach them about Ukrainian culture and traditions.

Supplies Needed For Easy Ukrainian Easter Eggs – Pysanky

Cooked chicken eggs. I used a mix of white and brown eggs.

Tools to create Pysanky:

• beeswax
• old spoon
• raw potato to stick the spoon into
• candle
• pencil
• pinning needle with a glass ball top
• feathers
• scissors

Refer to a picture guide below and a video at the end of this post for some visuals and instructions on how to create the simple tools for these Easy Ukrainian Easter Eggs – Pysanky. 

How To Create Pysanky Design

1. Sketch your design: Using a pencil, lightly sketch your design onto the egg. This will serve as a guide when you begin to apply the wax.
2. Melt the beeswax in the old spoon over the candle (refer to the picture guide).
3. Dip the writing tools into the melted wax and apply them according to the design.

4. After applying the wax, place your egg into the dye bath. Once the egg has reached the desired colour, remove it from the dye and let it dry. Experiment with timing and create all sorts of red shades. 

5. Remove the wax (optional): Once you have completed your design and allowed the egg to dry completely, gently remove the wax by holding the egg close to a lit candle flame or using a blow dryer and a friend to hold the egg for you. This step is optional because the eggs still look beautiful even with the wax on.

6. Apply a thin layer of cooking oil to give your Pysanky some shine.

Print Recipe

4.80 from 5 votes

Easy Ukrainian Easter Eggs – Pysanky

These easy Ukrainian easter eggs – Pysanky – are created using some simple tools and techniques. This method is for the whole family and even little kids can give it a try. 

Prep Time20 minutes mins

Cook Time8 minutes mins

Course: Snack

Keyword: Easter, Easter Eggs, Natural Dye, Paska, Pysanky

Equipment

• 1 old spoon
• 1 raw potato to stick the spoon into
• 1 candle
• 1 pencil
• 1 pinning needle with a glass ball top
• few feathers different shapes and sizes
• scissors

Ingredients

• cooked chicken eggs

Onion Peels Dye

• 1 medium pot onion peels
• 2 tsp white vinegar
• water

Instructions

Onion Peel Dye

• Cover onion peel with water. Bring it to a boil and cook for 30 minutes. 
• Add vinegar and mix (this is done to deepen the colour).
• Allow the mixture to cool down.

Create Pysanky Design

• Sketch your design: Using a pencil, lightly sketch your design onto the egg. This will serve as a guide when you begin to apply the wax.
• Melt the beeswax in the old spoon over the candle (refer to the picture guide for ideas).
• Dip the writing tools in the melted wax and apply according to the design.
• After applying the wax, place the egg into the dye bath. Once the egg has reached the desired colour, remove it from the dye and let it dry. Experiment with timing and create all sorts of red shades. 
• Remove the wax (optional): Once you have completed your design and allowed the egg to dry completely, gently remove the wax by holding the egg close to a lit candle flame or using a blow dryer and a friend to hold the egg for you. This step is optional because the eggs still look beautiful even with the wax on.
• Apply a thin layer of cooking oil to give your Pysanky a shine.

Notes

Pysanky eggs can be stored up to a week inside the refrigerator.

Have you made my recipe? Let me know by leaving a comment and rating the recipe below! Don’t forget to take a picture and tag @gastrosenses and use #gastrosenses on Instagram so I can see your beautiful creations! Happy eating!