Fill Your Basket with These Creative Easter Egg Ideas

Eggs have been a hot topic of conversation lately. Even though there’s nothing like a good fresh egg, with shortage issues contributing to rising prices, you may want to consider alternatives for Easter. Substitutes are available for baking and cooking with eggs, but what about Easter egg ideas for the holiday’s other traditions?

Dyed eggs and Easter egg hunts are treasured staples for many families, but they’ll likely be harder on the budget this year. You’ve come to the right place if you’re looking for great substitutes. Food Town is here to help keep your baskets and traditions on track. Keep reading for great alternative Easter egg ideas!

Let Your Creativity Shine with Plastic Easter Egg Decorating Ideas

Plastic Easter eggs come in all sorts of great colors, so they don’t necessarily need decorating. However, if you feel like adding a little oomph, countless plastic Easter egg decorating ideas are out there. The great thing about plastic eggs is that you can fill them with any treat you wish, then reuse them year after year! Here are a few of our favorite ideas.

Dyed Plastic Easter Eggs

You’ll need: food coloring, 4 cups rice, 1/4 cup + 3 tablespoons white vinegar, zip sandwich bags, and plastic eggs. (If you can find white eggs, they work best.)

1. Add 1/2 cup of rice to a plastic bag for each color you plan to use.
2. To each bag of rice, add about 12 drops of food coloring and about 1/4 teaspoon of vinegar. You can also mix colors to create new ones.
3. Seal the bag and use your fingers to evenly disperse the food coloring and vinegar into the rice.
4. Place an egg into the colorful rice and move it around to cover it in colorful speckles.
5. Remove the egg using tongs or gloves.
6. Repeat with each egg in each color. If needed, add more food coloring to keep the color vibrant. Let eggs dry completely.

Chalk-Painted Plastic Eggs

You’ll need: different colors of chalk paint (get small bottles), clear protective coating, and acrylic paint.

1. Take apart the egg halves and paint each with your chalk paint. Each half will require about three to four coats.
2. After the egg halves have dried, combine them and paint the seam.
3. Use acrylic paint to paint dots, or flick a brush dipped in paint to create an actual dotted egg effect. (Be careful — once dried, acrylic paint is permanent!)
4. After the egg is dry, apply a clear protective coat.
5. Display your creations in a basket or old bird’s nest.

Yarn-Wrapped Plastic Eggs

You’ll need: your choice of yarn, plastic eggs, Tacky Glue, tape, and craft sticks, or small paintbrush.

1. Tear off a small piece of tape and place it around the egg’s seam to keep it tightly closed. (If you plan to fill the egg with treats, skip taping it and decorate the halves separately.)
2. Using your craft sticks or paint brush, spread a thin layer of Tacky Glue over a small section of your plastic Easter egg.
3. Use your fingers to carefully push the strands of yarn against each other. (This is the fun part. Get creative! Try making yarn polka dots, stripes, swirls and other patterns.)
4. After your plastic Easter egg is completely covered with yarn, let it dry for a day or two.

This is just the beginning of things when it comes to plastic Easter egg decorating ideas. Stickers, markers, puffballs and paints can all make for wonderful decorative eggs. At the same time, they’re suitable for the kids.

Take Your Easter Egg Craft Ideas to the Next Level with Papier-Mâché

Papier-mâché is a great route if you have a bit of time, are OK with a little mess, and are ready to have a ton of fun. The end result is something you can decorate in so many ways — and keep for years to come.

You’ll need: balloons, tissue paper or newspaper, flour, water, paint, and decorative items.

1. Blow up a balloon into a small egg shape.
2. Tear paper into strips that are an inch wide, then set them aside.
3. Create a paste with two parts water and one part flour.
4. Dip each paper strip into the paste to cover it completely. Then place it on the surface of the balloon.
5. Repeat until the balloon is covered with at least two layers of paper strips.
6. Now, you wait. The balloon will take at least two days to dry.
7. Once the paper-mâché egg is completely dry, paint and decorate it as you like! Acrylic paint tends to work best here. (As we’ve mentioned already, be careful with that paint. It becomes permanent once dry!)

Get Your Animal Friends in on the Fun with Birdseed Eggs

Everybody deserves a treat on big holidays, neighbor! Although these birdseed eggs aren’t for human consumption, the kids will love making them and will feel good knowing they’re helping nature by providing something nice for their feathered friends. Visit Food Town for the ingredients you need, including birdseed.

You’ll need: birdseed, 3 – 4 dozen plastic eggs, plain gelatin mix, and cooking spray.

1. Make the gelatin per the box’s instructions, then mix in 10 cups of birdseed. (Friendly Note: This recipe makes enough for three to four dozen eggs. Half the ingredients if you want less.)
2. Spray the plastic eggs with cooking spray.
3. Pack the mixture into the eggs and place them in the fridge overnight to allow them to harden.
4. Once they’ve formed, pop the birdseed out of the eggs and leave these treats in your yard. For added flair, consider tying them to branches with colorful yarn or ribbon.

Celebrate the Holiday with Other Alternative Takes on Easter Eggs

There are all sorts of Easter eggs out there, each type adding its own something special to the holiday. Here are a few more outside-the-box (or basket?) options to consider.

• Wooden Easter Eggs: Made of plain, untreated wood and available at virtually any craft store, wooden Easter eggs are great for painting or displaying as-is.
• Confetti Eggs: Also known as cascarones, these are brightly colored hollowed-out eggshells filled with confetti. It’s a Mexican-American tradition to (gently!) crack the confetti egg over someone’s head. You can buy them already made or make them yourself.
• Easter Egg Chalk: Many stores offer colorful sidewalk chalk shaped like eggs. These make great additions to Easter baskets — and fun activities for little ones throughout the day.

Take Your Creativity to the Kitchen with Sweet Easter Egg Treats

If you want to replace traditional Easter eggs or plastic eggs with treats you cook or bake yourself, there are all sorts of yummy options out there. Here, your Food Town has pulled together some great recipes to try. Easy directions and fun shapes make these activities ideal for the whole family.

Easter Dyed Marshmallows

These are an eye-pleasing and appetizing alternative to eggs! You’ll need: jumbo marshmallows, food coloring and water. Visit Food Town’s baking department for marshmallows.

1. Mix a 1/2 cup of water with 10 to 20 drops food coloring in a mug or deep bowl.
2. Dip the marshmallows in one at a time, then set them on a paper towel to dry for 15 minutes. Turn them over and allow them to dry for another 15 minutes.
3. If desired, place sticks in the marshmallows.

Rice Krispies Easter Egg Treats™: Your favorite Rice Krispies treats made into colorful Easter eggs? Yes, please! Click here for your Rice Krispies Easter Egg Treats™ recipe.

Popcorn Easter Eggs: Made of popcorn colored and shaped to look like an egg, these are a perfect snack for the kids. Switch up the colors and toppings to make each one unique! Find your Popcorn Easter Eggs recipe here.

Easter Egg Cookies:  Use a sugar cookie mix to make these fun treats. Then decorate them with a variety of icing colors and toppings! Click here for your Easter Egg Cookies recipe.

Oreo Easter Truffles: Egg-shaped treats made with your favorite chocolate wafer cookie. These treats are sure to go fast. Follow this link to our Oreo Easter Truffles recipe.

Bunny Cookie Balls: These cute treats are a different take on cake pops. They call for cookie balls made with chocolate sandwich cookies. Find the Bunny Cookie Balls recipe here.

There are many ways to celebrate the Easter holiday, and your Food Town has everything you need to make something great. Stop by your neighborhood store for fresh eggs, plastic and confetti eggs, candy, and baking supplies for all your fun holiday plans. Don’t forget to check out our Spring into Easter Pinterest board for other great craft, activity, and snack inspiration! We can’t wait to see you, neighbor!