This Orange Julius Recipe is a sweet, creamy, and frothy orange drink that tastes a little like an orange creamsicle. Made with frozen orange juice concentrate, milk, vanilla, sugar, and ice, it blends together in just a few minutes for an easy drink the whole family can enjoy.
We love making this homemade version of the classic mall favorite because it only takes a handful of ingredients and a blender. Frozen orange juice concentrate gives it plenty of orange flavor, while milk, vanilla, and ice create that smooth, cold, foamy texture.
This is one the girls love making for breakfast, an after-school snack, or a summer treat. For more fun copycat drinks, try our Sonic Cherry Limeade and Ocean Water.
Why You’ll Love It + Why It Works:
- Few ingredients. It’s made up of ice, orange juice, sweetener, milk, and vanilla – so simple to make at home!
- Great any time. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, snacks, summer treats, and family movie nights.
- Frozen orange juice concentrate adds big flavor. It gives the drink a sweet, tangy orange taste without needing fresh oranges.
- Ice makes it frothy. Blending with ice creates that classic light and foamy texture.
Orange Julius Ingredients
- Frozen orange juice concentrate (6 ounces): Gives the drink its strong, sweet orange flavor without adding too much liquid. Use it straight from the freezer or only slightly thawed for the coldest, thickest drink.
- Milk, or almond milk for a dairy-free option (1 cup): Makes the Orange Julius smooth and creamy. Whole or 2% milk will give the richest texture, but unsweetened almond milk can be used for a dairy-free option.
- Water (1 cup): Thins the concentrated orange juice so the drink blends easily and stays sippable.
- Vanilla extract (1-2 teaspoons): Gives the drink its classic orange creamsicle flavor. Start with 1 teaspoon and add more if you like a stronger vanilla flavor.
- Sugar (¼ cup): Sweetens the tart orange concentrate and helps create that classic dessert-like flavor. Taste before serving and adjust if needed.
- Ice cubes (1 cup): Chill and thicken the drink while helping create its frothy texture. Add a little more ice if you prefer it thicker.
How to Make Orange Julius
BLEND. Add the frozen orange juice concentrate, milk, water, vanilla, and sugar to a blender, followed by the ice. Blend on high until completely smooth and frothy.
Taste and add a little more sugar if needed, or a few more ice cubes if you want a thicker drink.
Pour into glasses and serve immediately while cold and frothy.
Orange Julius Variations
Keep the classic orange version or add a simple twist with fruit or a different milk.
- Strawberry Orange. Replace some of the ice with frozen strawberries for a fruity orange and strawberry version.
- Banana Orange. Add frozen banana in place of some of the ice for a thicker, creamier drink.
- Tropical. Add frozen pineapple or replace a little of the water with pineapple juice for an orange-pineapple flavor.
- Peach. Replace some of the ice with frozen peaches.
- Dairy-Free. Use unsweetened almond milk or another favorite nondairy milk in place of regular milk.
- Extra Creamy. Use whole milk and keep the orange juice concentrate mostly frozen for the creamiest texture.
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
- Keep the Concentrate Cold. Use the frozen orange juice concentrate straight from the freezer or only slightly thawed for the coldest, thickest texture.
- Liquids First. Add the milk, water, and other liquid ingredients before the ice to help everything blend more easily.
- Blend Until Frothy. Let the blender run until the drink is smooth and has a light, foamy top.
- Adjust the Thickness. Add a few more ice cubes for a thicker Orange Julius or a small splash of milk for a thinner one.
- Taste Before Serving. Orange juice concentrates vary in sweetness, so add a little more sugar only if you think it needs it.
- Serve Right Away. The frothy texture settles as the drink sits, so it is best straight from the blender.
- Make Ahead. Measure the ingredients ahead of time, but wait to blend until you are ready to serve.
Orange Julius Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 ounces frozen orange juice concentrate
- 1 cup milk, (or almond milk for a dairy-free option)
- 1 cup water
- 1-2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 cup ice cubes
Instructions
- Add the frozen orange juice concentrate, milk, water, vanilla, and sugar to a blender, followed by the ice. Blend on high until completely smooth and frothy.
- Taste and add a little more sugar if needed, or a few more ice cubes if you want a thicker drink.
- Pour into glasses and serve immediately while cold and frothy.
Notes
- For the best flavor use orange juice concentrate because it is 6x more potent than orange juice.
- To use 1 cup of orange juice, omit the orange concentrate and water, and add in 2 tablespoons of orange zest.
- Whole milk helps produce a creamier drink.
- For extra frothiness, blend in ¼-½ teaspoon of egg white powder.
- Add the 1 cup of ice gradually to reach your desired thickness
Nutrition
Recipe FAQ
Yes. Replace the regular milk with unsweetened almond milk or another favorite nondairy milk. The texture may be slightly less creamy depending on the milk you use.
Make sure the ingredients are very cold and blend long enough for the ice to become completely smooth. A high-speed blender will create the frothiest texture, but a regular blender will work too.
Add a few more ice cubes and blend again. Keeping the orange juice concentrate mostly frozen also helps create a thicker drink.
It is best served immediately because the ice melts and the frothy texture settles as it sits. You can measure the ingredients ahead of time and blend everything just before serving.
Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours, but expect the drink to separate and lose some of its frothy texture. We prefer pouring leftovers into popsicle molds and freezing them for an easy treat.
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This recipe was originally published August 2015.
You know if you omit the egg white powder and throw in pineapple powder at the same ratio you would pretty much have it. and this recipe is the best one.
We love this orange julius recipe! So refreshing, easy to make and my family enjoyed it!
This was so refreshing! I used almond milk and the vanilla extract added a nice touch. Perfect for a quick breakfast before work. Will definitely make it again!