This copycat Orange Julius recipe is easy to make at home with orange juice, milk and vanilla! This creamy frothy smoothie will be on repeat all summer long.
Looking for more fruity beverages? Strawberry banana smoothie, blueberry lemonade and pineapple smoothie, are all so good!
Table of Contents
Homemade Orange Julius Recipe
Whether you’re a longtime fan of Orange Julius, or you’ve just seen the juice stand as a frequent flyer in mall food courts, you’re going to love this copycat recipe that is light, refreshing and frothy!
Thinner than a milkshake and sweeter than smoothie recipes, it’s a cold refreshing sippable treat that tastes just like an orange creamsicle that can be made in minutes! Try it as an easy breakfast ideas along with glazed orange muffins.
Orange Julius Ingredients
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Frozen orange juice: Orange juice from concentrate has less water content than orange juice from a bottle or carton.
- Sugar: This is what sweetens it up! It’s needed to mellow out the tangy citrus flavor and what takes it from a juice to a sweet treat.
- Milk: I use 2% milk for the consistency, but for a dairy-free version you can use almond milk. If you like yours a bit thicker, use whole milk instead.
- Vanilla: A tasty flavor addition that is the signature of any Orange Julius drink. The milk and vanilla together give it almost a vanilla ice cream vibe.
- Water: Needed to blend everything while keeping it from becoming too thick.
- Ice: As needed.
Substitutions and Variations
By making a few substitutions you can make a few different versions of an Orange Julius!
- You can swap the orange juice for pineapple juice or add in some frozen strawberries and bananas.
- Use plant-based milk to keep it vegan. Almond milk and coconut milk are great options.
- Add some greek yogurt to make it a little thicker and add some protein.
- Last, if you’re looking to add a little protein, a scoop of your favorite vanilla protein powder would be a great addition.
How to Make Orange Julius
- Add ingredients to the blender. To the blender, add the frozen orange juice, milk, water, sugar, and vanilla.
- Blend on high speed until smooth. Watch that you don’t overdo it. Some high-speed blenders will start to become hot and could then start melting your OJ!
- Add the ice cubes and blend again. The ice should be finely crushed making the mixture slushy. If you want yours a bit thicker still, add more ice.
- Grab your glasses! Pour the Orange Julius into 2 glasses. Place an orange slice on the rim for garnish, if desired. Enjoy immediately!
Expert Tips
- Double the batch. If you plan to double, only blend a batch at a time to make sure everything blends evenly.
- Serve immediately after blending to enjoy it while it’s still frothy and the consistency is just right.
- Extra garnish. If adding strawberries to yours, don’t forget to leave a strawberry for garnish too!
- Avoid melting. We’re not using any raw eggs or powder to make our drink frothy. The frozen juice and ice does that for us, so it’s important to keep everything frozen.
- Storing. Have fun with any leftovers! Pour them into popsicle molds for tasty poolside treats. You can also add them to ice cube trays and blend the ice cubes later on.
Recipe FAQs
Traditionally this famous drink started as a signature treat found at orange juice stands. Made with powdered egg whites and artificial sweetener to make it sweet and frothy, it was created as a less acidic version of fresh orange juice.
In the late 80s, Dairy Queen bought it and since then it has expanded into a recognizable stand all over the country. It’s in malls and Dairy Queens everywhere!
Our homemade Orange Julius is much healthier without a long list of ingredients we can’t pronounce and it still tastes just as delicious!
If you look at the ingredients list of the original it’s got a long list of even longer words that most of us aren’t familiar with. Essentially, it’s orange juice, egg white powder, flavor enhancers, a ton of sugars, etc.
I think I’ll stick with mine from now on!
I don’t recommend it. Part of what makes this drink so spectacular is the texture and consistency of this drink! It won’t be the same if you use juice from a carton or bottle.
OJ from concentrate gives it a stronger orange flavor and thicker consistency, especially when blended while frozen.
No! I think we captured the essence of this popular drink without using raw eggs. I wanted to keep it kid-friendly as well, and some people aren’t comfortable with that.
If you have never had a creamsicle, it’s like an orange pop mixed with vanilla ice cream. This recipe replaces the artificial orange flavor with real orange juice and tastes even better.
More refreshing recipes we love include Dole Whip and this acai smoothie recipe!
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Orange Julius Recipe
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 (8-ounce) can frozen orange juice concentrate
- 1 ½ cups milk
- 1 cup water
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1-2 cups ice , more as needed
Instructions
- In the base of a blender, add the juice concentrate, milk, water, sugar, and vanilla.
- Blend on high speed until smooth and the sugar is dissolved.
- Add ice and blend again until the mixture is slushy and the ice is finely crushed. Add more ice if you'd like it thicker.
- Pour the Orange Julius into 2 glasses. Add a orange slice on the side if desired and serve immediately.
Notes
- Juice. Swap orange juice for pineapple juice.
- Fruit. Add in frozen strawberries or bananas.
- Vegan. Use your favorite plant-based milk in place of the milk.
- Water. Try coconut water for a more tropical flavor.
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: American, Breakfast, Gluten-Free, Kid-Friendly, Nut-Free, Smoothies, Snacks, Sweet Breakfast, Vegetarian
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
I grew up with orange Julius in the Philippines and loved it, but here in Germany, I don’t think I have ever seen frozen orange juice concentrate. Is there any substitute I can use? Can I freeze whatever orange juice I find here?
Thank you so much.
Best regards,
Gigi
p.s. have also saved your piña colada recipe. Can’t wait to try it.
Hi Gigi! Thanks for your questions and I am a huge fan of both Orange Julius and pina colada recipes! I am not sure what would substitute for orange juice concentrate besides the frozen orange juice itself. It would have to be frozen though and not just the orange juice poured into the blender. I hope that helps and you can enjoy this refreshing drink soon!
Seriously so refreshing! Love that I can make these at home now.