Easter egg prices soar, Americans turn to dyeing marshmallows, potatoes, and onions

For 40 years, Young’s Jersey Dairy in Yellow Springs, Ohio, has held a popular Easter tradition—an egg hunt with 10,000 real, hand-dyed eggs. Every year, the dairy would bake the eggs in large ovens—much faster than boiling—then cool and dye them by hand. These colorful eggs were then hidden around the farm's grassy fields for kids and families to find.

Plastic Eggs replace real ones

This Easter, things have changed. For the first time in four decades, the event will use plastic eggs instead of real ones. These eggs will hold coupons for a free carousel ride, but they won’t have the traditional real eggs inside.

The change came after the dairy faced the rising cost of eggs and a nationwide shortage. In February, the Young family began to think seriously about whether they could continue using real eggs. With prices going up and stores sometimes having empty shelves, they realized it might not be wise. The event attracts more than 2,000 visitors every year and usually costs around $3,000 (₹2.56 lakh) just for eggs.

John Young, a fourth-generation member of the family, said they made the decision to switch to plastic eggs to avoid putting pressure on the local egg supply. “It wasn’t just about the cost,” he said. “We didn’t want to empty the shelves and hurt others in the area who also need eggs.”

The response from the public was mostly positive. Many people were just happy that the event wasn’t canceled. “I think people were quietly scared we’d cancel the event because of egg prices,” said Young. “They’re just glad it’s still happening.”

Easter joy still alive

Some families are getting creative with Easter traditions due to high egg prices. Online, people are now dyeing marshmallows, potatoes, and even onions to bring color and fun to their celebrations. Videos showing these fun alternatives have gone viral on platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram.

Food blogger Lexi Harrison, who runs “Crowded Kitchen” with her mom, decided to make her own version of the famous peanut butter chocolate Easter eggs—but healthier. Instead of using store-bought candy, she mixed peanut butter, almond flour, and maple syrup, shaped them into eggs, and dipped them in white chocolate. To add color, she used blue spirulina powder and matcha—natural, healthy coloring options.

Her pastel blue, cocoa-speckled Easter eggs have become a hit online. Her video has been watched over 64 million times and received more than 30,000 comments across different social media platforms.

“The experience reminds people of the joyful times they had as kids,” Lexi said. “People want to keep that feeling alive, especially for their own children.” She also noted that egg dyeing kits are more popular this year, with a 20% increase in sales.

Lexi is based in Michigan, where she says eggs have been hard to find. “More than half the time I go to the store, there are no eggs,” she said. “And honestly, I’ve never really liked boiled eggs.”

The egg shortage and high prices have been felt all over the U.S. Prices started rising in recent years due to various reasons like bird flu outbreaks, supply chain issues, and increased demand during holidays. Even though prices are slowly coming down, there’s still uncertainty. So, many families and businesses are trying to find fun and meaningful alternatives.

At Young’s Jersey Dairy, the change wasn’t easy. The tradition of dyeing and hiding real eggs has been a part of their Easter celebration for so long. Families come year after year, and many parents now bring their own children to the same egg hunt they enjoyed as kids.

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But the Young family believes that the joy of Easter doesn’t have to depend on real eggs. The goal is to bring people together, let them enjoy the day, and create lasting memories.

“We believe plastic eggs can be just as fun,” John Young said. “But I do hope we can return to real eggs next year.”

In place of buying 10,000 eggs this year, the dairy has decided to donate the $3,000 they would have spent to two local food banks. That way, the money can help families who are struggling, especially during the holidays. This thoughtful action has made many people respect the farm even more.

Around the country, others are following the trend. Creative parents are turning to other items for Easter egg fun. Marshmallows can be dyed easily, and they’re already a sweet treat. Potatoes are inexpensive and can be boiled and dyed, just like eggs. And onions, especially red ones, can give a lovely natural color when boiled with their skins.

Online creators are coming up with tutorials and step-by-step videos, showing how to dye these items safely and easily. Some even add faces, stickers, or glitter to make them more attractive for kids.

One mom from Texas shared how she hosted an Easter hunt with painted rocks instead of eggs. Each rock had a small message or drawing, and kids were thrilled to collect them. “It’s not about the egg—it’s about the hunt,” she said.

Stores have noticed the trend too. Some craft stores are selling dyeable wooden eggs, foam eggs, and even reusable plastic eggs that open to hide small gifts, candies, or notes.

While many people still prefer real eggs for Easter, there’s a growing interest in being more sustainable, creative, and even health-conscious during celebrations. Using fewer real eggs can reduce food waste, especially when people throw away dyed eggs that go uneaten.

At the same time, there’s nostalgia around real egg dyeing. It’s something many adults remember doing with their families. They remember the vinegar smell, the bright colors, and the messy hands. That’s why, even with all the new ideas, there’s hope that the tradition of real Easter eggs will return in the future.

For now, though, many are embracing the change. They’re using this time to try something new, help others, and keep the holiday spirit alive, no matter what kind of “egg” is in the basket.

The team at Young’s Dairy is already looking forward to next year. If the egg supply improves, they may bring back real eggs. But if not, they’re ready to keep the new plastic egg tradition going—complete with carousel ride coupons, smiling kids, and happy families.

What matters most, they say, is the community coming together and making memories. And even without real eggs, that tradition is still going strong.