Orange Julius

Refreshing & simple Orange Julius takes a minute to make and tastes just like the real thing. It is a favorite family treat!

Homemade Orange Julius is one of our go to breakfast drinks!! To complete the meal, just add one of our favorite breakfast casseroles or a big stack of pancakes.

Orange julius served in a glass with fresh orange slice.

What is an Orange Julius?

Who here has had an Orange Julius before? We’ve been long-time fans and recently decided to try making our own copycat Orange Julius recipe at home. But, what is an Orange Julius?

In the 1920’s, Julius Freed opened an orange juice stand in Los Angeles, but sales weren’t so great. His friend, Bill, made a less acidic, more frothy version of orange juice which Julius adopted and began serving at his OJ stand.

People loved it and began ordering Orange Julius’ left and right. In 1987 Dairy Queen bought the Orange Julius Company. (Source)

Today, that famous orange drink made up of ice, orange juice, sweetener, milk and vanilla is still found in mall food courts. It’s kind of like an orange juice smoothie, except it’s more creamy and frothy. We think it tastes like a melted orange creamsicle.

This homemade orange julius recipe is so quick and easy that even a kid can put it together. Best of all, it tastes just like the real version, which means we can make this at home whenever we want.

Orange Julius ingredients on a marble countertop.

just blend!!

The orange julius ingredients include:

  • frozen orange juice
  • milk
  • water
  • sugar
  • vanilla
  • ice cubes

Luckily, we had pretty much all of these ingredients at our house already!

BLEND. To make this yummy recipe, just throw everything in the blender and blend until nice and smooth. It’s that easy!

variations

Julius with a twist. Add other flavors to the Orange Julius. Frozen Bananas or strawberries are particularly delicious. Add in some pineapple concentrate for a bit of extra flavor. Just keep in mind that it will cause a thicker or thinner texture.

Dairy-free. Make this dairy-free by using coconut milk or almond milk.

Orange Julius ingredients in a blender.

Orange julius FAQ

Use fresh orange juice. Using Orange Juice and adding more ice will just change the texture and flavor, which isn’t what you want!

Create your own concentrate. If you don’t have orange juice concentrate, freeze an equal amount of fresh orange juice in an ice cube tray (or a glass pan, and then break it into pieces) and put that in the blender with the other ingredients.

Texture. Adjusting the texture to your liking is quite easy. Reduce the amount of added water/milk for a thicker texture or increase it if you prefer a thinner texture

No eggs. Many traditional orange Julius recipes call for egg whites, or egg white powder to help get a nice foamy texture, but I think I was able to manage just the right amount of foam without using raw eggs. Another way that can help add fluffiness to the foam is to substitute powdered sugar for the granulated sugar. 

Orange Julius recipe ingredients blended in blender.

Storing info

STORE leftovers (if you have any) in the fridge for a day or so in an airtight container, but it’s much better to have it fresh!

FREEZE. My favorite thing to do with leftovers it to pour it into a popsicle mold as a refreshing treat.

Close up of Orange Julius recipe in a glass with a slice of fresh orange.

For more refreshing drinks, check out:

Orange Julius Recipe

4.87 from 73 votes
Refreshing & simple Orange Julius takes a minute to make and tastes just like the real thing. It is a favorite family treat!
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 2
Calories 301 kcal
Author Lil’ Luna

Ingredients

  • 6 ounces frozen orange juice concentrate
  • 1 cup milk or almond milk*
  • 1 cup water
  • 1-2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 1 cup ice cubes

Instructions
 

  • Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Serve immediately.

Video

Notes

Freeze It: My favorite thing to do with leftovers is to pour them into a popsicle mold and freeze for a refreshing treat during the summer.
Julius with a Twist: Add other ingredients to the Orange Julius, like frozen bananas, strawberries or even pineapple juice, for extra flavor.

Like this recipe?

Pin it now to remember it later! Share it with your Facebook friends (you know they’ll love it). Or tweet it to the world. Maybe even email it to your favorite cousin!

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About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

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Comments:

  1. 5 stars
    My favorite guilty pleasure!! I have loved orange julius since I was a kid and this recipe taste just like it!

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