Easy Confetti Eggs to Make for Easter

Steve and I first discovered cascarones, Mexican confetti eggs, on a trip to Santa Barbara during Old Spanish Days Fiesta. The sidewalks were crammed with vendors selling flats and flats of these beauties.

We learned that you crush them over people’s heads to bring them good luck. Soon we were showered in confetti. We bought extras to take home because they were so pretty. I kept them in my favorite bowl.

Last Easter, we finally put them to the use they were intended for.

Social Distancing for Easter

Because of the lockdown, we will not be having a family Easter dinner this year. Still, I made Easter basket table favors for everyone and prepared larger baskets for the grandkids. I’m sending them, along with some confetti eggs, to Miss T’s family because we all could use a little fun and good luck right now.

Why not make confetti eggs for your favorite kids? The eggs can be tucked into Easter baskets or hidden indoors for an Easter egg hunt. If the kids live in your household, invite them to decorate and fill the eggs, too. I am missing my little helpers this year.

What to do with leftover Easter eggs? Kids as young as three can make deviled eggs.

Materials for Cascarones, Confetti Eggs

• Uncooked chicken eggs
• Table knife
• Coloring tools (see choices below)
• Scissors
• Tissue paper
• Confetti (see how to make below)
• White school glue, such as Elmers

How to Crack the Eggs

Holding the egg in one hand, with smaller end up, gently rap the top of the egg with a table knife to make a small crack. Once you have a crack, carefully break off bits of shell with your fingers to create a hole about 3/4 inch in diameter.

Shake the contents of the egg out of the hole and into a bowl. If it resists, use a skewer or a thin knife to pierce the yolk. When all the contents have been removed, rinse the egg thoroughly with soap in running water and dry upside down in an egg carton or on paper towels. The eggs must be completely dry before you fill them. This will take about a day and a half.

To hurry the process, you can use a hair dryer. Do not put the nozzle too close to hole because you will block the flow of air and could short circuit the appliance. Protect the hand holding the egg with an oven mitt.

What to do with the eggs? Make an omelet, scrambled eggs, or a frittata.

How to Make the Confetti Eggs

Once you hollow out the eggs, the rest is easy.

1. Decorate the eggs as you like. See suggestions for coloring tools below.
2. Now cut a square of tissue paper a little bigger than the opening of the egg, so you have about a 1/2-inch margin beyond the hole; set aside.
3. Use your fingers to fill each egg with confetti. See how to make confetti below.
4. Squeeze a thin line of glue all along the edge of the egg hole, then secure the tissue paper to cover the hole. Trim away corners of the tissue paper with scissors. Add more glue, if needed, to hold the tissue in place..

Coloring tools

Depending on what you have to work with at home, you can use any of the following to decorate your confetti egg.

• Easter egg coloring kits, such as Paas
• Food coloring. Combine 1/2 cup boiling water with 1 teaspoon vinegar and 10 to 20 drops food coloring.
• Acrylic paints–good for applying color in specific areas, such as to make a watermelon or strawberry.
• Highlighters, marking pens, fine-point Sharpies

How to Make Confetti

Tissue paper: If you have colored tissue paper, you can fold the paper into several thicknesses, cut in strips, then cut the strips crosswise to form squares. Tissue paper makes confetti that will float a bit as it comes down.

Colored paper, origami paper, gift wrap: Cut the paper in strips, then cut strips crosswise to form squares. I used my paper cutter, but scissors will do. Use a hole punch to cut some circles.

Ribbon: Shiny ribbon (without wire edges) makes sparkly confetti. If the ribbon is wide, cut into thinner strips, then cut crosswise to form squares.

Custom shapes: If you have a Cricut machine, you can make confetti in fun shapes.

Wishing everyone a safe, healthy and wonderful Easter and Passover at home.

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