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Refreshing & simple copycat Orange Julius recipe 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.
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 version at home.
- Few Ingredients. It’s made up of ice, orange juice, sweetener, milk and vanilla is still found in mall food courts.
- Quick + Easy. Even a kid can make it, plus it’s made in minutes!
- Delicious. 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.
Best of all, this recipe tastes just like the real version, which means we can make this at home whenever we want.
What is 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)
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!
Orange Julius Tips
- Use fresh orange juice. Using Orange Juice and adding more ice will just change the texture and flavor, which isn’t what you want!
- 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.
- 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.
Storing
- 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.
For more Drink Recipes:
Orange Julius Recipe
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
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
yummy
This sounds so good and refreshing, I will try it soon.
This is the best!! I love orange julius but never want to spend the money on buying them…now I can make them at home!
One of my favorites! This recipe is delicious. Reminds me off a 50/50 ice cream bar. We used to buy from ice cream truck.
Hi –
I’ve never had this before so I thought I’d give it a try. The recipe was easy and straightforward. It turned out really fantastic, especially for the 90 degree heat we are now experiencing here in New York. I am never disappointed when receiving your recipes. I would like to receive the recipe for your pineapple upside down cake. The video was running and it reminded me how much I LOVE it and how long it’s been since I’ve had one. If I don’t win the kitchen tools package but receive your pineapple upside down cake, I’d still be a winner. 🙂
It sounds delicious, love the idea of using almond or coconut milk.
so good! and easy…
This recipe is delicious and refreshing! It is perfect on a hot day, and we also like to have it as a breakfast drink at our house. It is simple enough my kids can make it too!
very good refreshing
This is definitely a 5 star. This is an amazing cold drink for me So refreshing on the hot summer days in Myrtle Beach SC. Will be whipping these up frequently.