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This Orange Julius Recipe is cold, creamy, frothy, and tastes just like the classic mall drink we loved growing up. It has that sweet orange creamsicle flavor, blends up in just a few minutes, and makes the best after-school snack, brunch drink, or warm weather treat.
5 Star Reviews ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“So good! This is my husband’s favorite drink! He asks for it whenever he’s feeling ill as it’s his perfect “feel better” drink! But, of course, this comfort food drink is his favorite when he’s feeling awesome, too!” – Betsy
“Super refreshing and delicious! My whole family loves this drink!” – Anna
“I love homemade orange julius. We used to make them when I was a teenager. This recipe is awesome and super easy to make!” – Matt
Why I Love This Frozen Drink
We have been making this Orange Julius Copycat Recipe since we were kids, and it still takes me right back to those mall food court days. It is sweet, creamy, icy, and full of orange flavor. I love that it uses simple ingredients I can keep on hand, especially frozen orange juice concentrate, so we can make it whenever the craving hits.
This recipe works so well because the orange juice concentrate gives it bold flavor, the milk makes it creamy, the vanilla gives it that orange creamsicle taste, and the ice makes it frothy and cold. I also like adding a little powdered sugar because it helps thicken the drink and gives it a smoother texture.
🩷 Erica
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Orange juice concentrate – This gives the drink its bright orange flavor and works best when it is still very cold and slightly slushy.
- Milk – Milk makes the drink creamy and smooth. Whole milk gives the richest texture, but 2% or skim milk also works.
- Water – A little water helps thin the mixture so it blends smoothly without watering down the orange flavor too much.
- Sugar and powdered sugar – Granulated sugar adds sweetness, while powdered sugar helps make the drink smooth and lightly thick.
- Vanilla extract – Vanilla gives this Orange Julius Recipe that classic creamsicle flavor.
- Ice cubes – Ice makes the drink cold, frothy, and thick enough to sip through a straw.
Ingredient Additions and Substitutions
- Use whole milk for extra creaminess – Whole milk gives this drink the richest texture, but 2% milk works great too.
- Make it dairy free – Use oat milk, almond milk, or coconut milk. Oat milk tends to blend up nicely and coconut milk gives it a tropical flavor.
- Try a berry Orange Julius – Add strawberries, raspberries, or pineapple for a fruity twist.
- Use frozen fruit – Frozen strawberries, peaches, or banana can replace some of the ice for a thicker drink.
- Make it a Lime Julius – Use lime juice concentrate instead of orange and leave out the vanilla.
- Use ice cream – For more of a dessert drink, replace some or all of the milk with vanilla ice cream.
- Use fresh orange juice if needed – Frozen concentrate gives the best flavor and texture, but you can freeze fresh orange juice into cubes and blend those in a pinch.
How to Make Orange Julius
- Add the base ingredients. Add the orange juice concentrate, milk, water, sugar, powdered sugar, and vanilla to a blender. Blend until smooth. Blend on high until the orange concentrate is fully mixed in and the drink looks creamy.
- Add the ice. Add the ice cubes a few at a time and blend until the drink is cold, frothy, and smoothie-like. Serve right away. Pour into glasses and enjoy immediately while it is thick, cold, and frothy.
Recipe Tips
- Use frozen orange juice concentrate. This gives the drink the strongest orange flavor and helps create the classic icy texture.
- Let the concentrate soften slightly. It should be soft enough to scoop but still very cold.
- Add ice slowly. Adding the ice a few cubes at a time helps the blender crush it evenly.
- Blend long enough for froth. The frothy top comes from giving the blender enough time to whip air into the drink.
- Serve it immediately. Orange Julius is best right after blending because the ice melts as it sits.
- Adjust sweetness to taste. Taste before serving and add a little more powdered sugar if you like it sweeter.
- Use a strong blender if you have one. It makes the texture smoother and helps crush the ice better.
- Don’t skip the vanilla. It is what gives the drink that nostalgic creamsicle flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
An Orange Julius is a cold, frothy orange drink made with orange juice concentrate, milk, sugar, vanilla, and ice. It is not quite a smoothie and not quite a milkshake. It is sweet, creamy, lightly frozen, and tastes a lot like an orange creamsicle.
Yes! This homemade version is made to taste like the classic Orange Julius drink with simple ingredients you can blend at home.
The original version was known for its frothy texture, and some versions used egg whites or egg white powder. I skip the egg in this recipe and still get a creamy, frothy drink by blending the orange juice concentrate, milk, sugar, vanilla, and ice really well. I also like using powdered sugar because it helps smooth and slightly thicken the drink.
Frozen orange juice concentrate works best because it gives the drink strong orange flavor without making it watery. If you don’t have it, freeze orange juice into cubes and blend those with the milk, sugar, vanilla, and a little extra orange zest or juice if needed. The texture will be a little different, but it will still taste good.
Yes. You can use oat milk, almond milk, or coconut milk instead of regular milk. The drink may not be quite as creamy, but it will still blend well. Coconut milk gives it a tropical flavor.
Yes, as long as your food processor is large enough to hold all the ingredients. Blend the liquid and orange concentrate first, then add the ice slowly until it reaches the right texture.
Yes. Vanilla ice cream makes it thicker, sweeter, and more like a milkshake. You can replace some or all of the milk with ice cream depending on how rich you want it.
It probably needs more ice or the orange juice concentrate was too thawed. Add a few more ice cubes and blend again until it thickens.
Add a splash of milk or water and blend again. Add just a little at a time so it doesn’t get too thin.
Yes. This recipe doubles easily, and doubling it is a great way to use a full 12-ounce can of frozen orange juice concentrate. Just make sure you have a big enough blender or split blending it into two batches.
Make Ahead and Storage
Make ahead: This drink is best made fresh, but you can measure out the ingredients ahead of time. Keep the orange juice concentrate in the freezer until you are ready to blend.
Storing: Orange Julius does not store well in the refrigerator because the ice melts and the drink separates. If you need to hold it for a few minutes, keep it in the fridge and give it a quick stir or re-blend before serving.
Freezing: Leftovers can be poured into popsicle molds and frozen. They make fun orange creamsicle-style popsicles for later.
Reheating: This recipe is served cold, so there is no reheating needed.
Pairing Ideas
This Orange Julius Recipe is so good with breakfast, brunch, or a quick snack. Serve it with Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes, Waffles, Kneaders French Toast, Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins, Crockpot Breakfast Casserole, or a simple Egg Bake. It also pairs well with sandwiches, wraps, fresh fruit salad, or anything you would serve for a light lunch on a warm day.
More Fun Drink Ideas
Although the nostalgia of the Orange Julius copycat keeps us coming back for more, there are several other drinks to sip when you need a refreshing kick.
This Orange Julius Recipe is creamy, frothy, sweet, and full of bright orange flavor. It is one of those easy copycat recipes that brings back so many memories, and it only takes a few minutes to make at home. Blend up a batch, pour it into cold glasses, and let me know if it tastes just like the one you remember! 🍊🧡
Orange Julius Copycat Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 6 ounces orange juice concentrate
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup water
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2-3 Tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- about 10-11 ice cubes
Instructions
- In a blender, blend all ingredients except ice.
- Slowly add ice cubes one at a time until it reaches a "smoothie" consistency. Serve immediately.
Equipment
Notes
- For the best texture, use orange juice concentrate that is still very cold and only slightly softened.
- Add the ice slowly so it blends evenly and creates a frothy texture.
- Whole milk makes the creamiest drink, but 2%, skim, or non-dairy milk can be used.
- For a berry Orange Julius, add strawberries, raspberries, pineapple, or frozen fruit.
- This drink is best served right away. Leftovers can be frozen into popsicles.
- If the drink is too thick, add a splash of milk or water. If it is too thin, add more ice.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Just a quick question? Can you make this in a food processor? I love this recipe!
Yes. You can, you just want to make sure you are using a large enough one that all the ingredients will fit. Hope this helps!
I like to use ice cream instead of milk. It’s so good!!
Super refreshing and delicious! My whole family loves this drink!
My favorite reminds me going to the mall as a kid! Great recipe!
I love homemade orange julius. We used to make them when I was a teenager. This recipe is awesome and super easy to make!
So good! This is my husband’s favorite drink! He asks for it whenever he’s feeling ill as it’s his perfect “feel better” drink! But, of course, this comfort food drink is his favorite when he’s feeling awesome, too! 😀
I loved going to the mall to get these when I was young. I was on the hunt to find a drink I could make at home and this is it! It’s so delicious and even better!
I need to try this! I moved to the UK so I haven’t had an Orange Julius in years. Can’t wait to make it!
This is really close to the recipe my mom made for us growing up. And I agree, it’s better than the real thing.
Just made these for my kids now. We are moving & they are working so hard & helping so much! This was just the treat they needed. They are loving them!
The real Orange Julius used a tablespoon of Ice Cream mix you can now find. Before I found it I use the recipe but add a tablespoon of powered egg whites. So good!
Love your blog and this recipe, I’m trying to figure out how to print it. Keep up the great work!
I lived in Long beach in the late 60″s and it was a favorite of mine. Back then you could get it with or without an egg in it. I loved the egg added. We still make in our house today. Hmm, I wonder if I could use the Margaretta maker for them. Thank you for sharing this yummy recipe!
the Original Orange Julius was made with Fresh Orange Juice and it also had Malt powder in it , my mom use to work @ the one in Riverside Ca, when i was young. Always loved the drink, this is a great copycat!
sorry also sometimes people asked for a fresh egg in it too.
This is so good, how many serving would you say it makes?
It should be enough for 2-4 servings..
I would so love to make these! We are living overseas and don’t have access to frozen OJ concentrate. Do you know if I can just substitute regular OJ?
It probably wouldn’t taste as good. You need the concentrate to get the rich flavor. You can sure try it though!
I used Tang, mixed in about 3 tbl. was great.
Wow…this recipe really takes me back! Headed to the kitchen to try this out as soon as I finish typing this comment! 🙂
Love your blog and your wonderful breadth of different types of recipes. Can’t wait to try a few…got them bookmarked!!!
I make mine with no sugar added. I add about 1-2 tablespoons of orange frozen concentrate orange juice, strawberries, milk, banana, optional egg whites, and you don’t need any sugar. Great Recipes, love your website. Thank-you I have tried several so far and they are all very good!
This is so close to the recipe we always used too! One of my favorite things is to switch out the orange concentrate for lemon concentrate – just as good and sometimes tastier! And I agree, I once had an Orange Julius orange julius and thought it was so disgusting! I need to be careful what I say, though, because my bishop owns all the Dairy Queens in this area. 🙂
We make this all the time now! Thank you! It is delicious!!! 🙂
Love this recipe. This is also delicious with Grape or Cranberry frozen concentrate!
For a less concentrate version: Try using 1 C milk, 1/3 C Sugar, 1 orange peeled, and 1 T of OJ concentrate. Blend, then mix ice cubes in until it's the consistency you want it. So yummy!
Great idea! The large amount of concentrate bothered me as well, though I LOVE the traditional recipe. I too made it al the time when I was little. I’m anxious to try it with the orange!
this is almost exactly how we made them growing up. delicious! i also like doing lime julius (lime juice concentrate instead of orange and no vanilla).
Love your site! Clicked over to it from somewhere else — honestly can’t remember where, though. Oh well. Anyway, I’m sipping away on my Orange Julius as I’m typing this. Made it with rice milk, for a dairy-free version. Will be posting a link to your recipe from my blog. Thanks for sharing!
When I was growing up, my town didn’t have an Orange Julius, so it was always a huge treat to go to the big city and have one. That and Subway. Oh, how times have changed, huh? Thank you for the yummy recipe!
I also have fond memories of having these when I was a little girl. My dad made them all the time! Love this recipe so much.