A 5-minute refreshing Orange Julius that tastes just like at the popular chain! Creamy, icy, this orange slushy is perfect for a hot day!
If you remember Orange Julius, you have to make this recipe at home! My best tip to make this delicious drink at home is to use Greek yogurt – it will be super creamy and thick like smoothies.
Gina’s Recipe Rundown:
Texture: This frothy orange drink is well known for its slushy-like texture, it brings so many memories! Super refreshing too.
Taste: Signature flavors of classic Orange Julius drink – creamy, milky, bright orange, a little vanilla, and tang from yogurt.
Ease: Barely any prep time and you have a healthy rich drink that kids and adults rave about for decades already.
Why I love it: Reminds me of growing up in the Los Angeles area with that orange freeze that was a favorite treat. It is just as good as the real thing and much healthier (and cheaper!).
Craving this iconic mall drink? With this recipe you can make it as many times a week as you want!
What Is Orange Julius?
Orange Julius is a popular frothy and creamy American drink that tastes like a mix between a smoothie and an orange creamsicle.
It was first created in the 1920s by Julius Freed, hence the name, who opened a small stand selling this refreshing treat. When he invented this new drink, his sales went through the roof!
The drink is usually made by blending orange juice concentrate, milk, vanilla extract, and ice, resulting in a deliciously cool and smooth beverage. Many people love Orange Julius because of its sweet, tangy flavor and its ability to quench thirst on a hot summer day.
Over the years, it became so popular that it was sold in malls and even became part of the Dairy Queen chain.
The original Orange Julius has a secret ingredient that hasn’t been revealed yet, but some fans think it can be powdered egg whites as they are well known to make a frothy texture.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- No raw eggs. Despite what fans say about the secret texture enhancers in the original recipe, I don’t use egg whites in mine.
- Perfect use for any leftover orange juice you have.
- Great smoothie option for breakfast.
- Kids love this drink! They don’t know they are getting all that vitamin c in their dessert.
Ingredients Notes
See the full ingredient list and exact quantities on the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- Orange juice, frozen in ice cube trays. You can buy frozen orange juice concentrate to skip the freezing step, use store-bought juice, or buy fresh oranges and make fresh-squeezed juice – healthy and fun!
- Milk. I simply use whole milk for the best flavors and richness, but it is ok to use alternative milk like almond or coconut milk. The milk is what gives the drink its authentic frothiness!
- Confectionerโs sugar. It is ok to use granulated sugar too.
- Vanilla extract. Use pure vanilla extract for the most natural vanilla flavoring.
- Ice cubes. They make it refreshing but also bulk up the smoothie.
- Greek yogurt (optional, for extra creaminess)
Kitchen Equipment
- Ice cube tray
- Blender
- Glasses for serving or takeaway cups if making for a road trip.
- Optional, straws, for serving
How to make Orange Julius
1: Freeze The Juice
- Prepare the orange juice by freezing in an ice cube tray for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- If using frozen concentrate or frozen juice, skip this step!
2: Blend & Serve
- Combine the frozen orange juice cubes, milk, water, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and ice cubes in a blender. Blend until smooth and creamy, adding more water if needed.
- Serve immediately. Garnish with an orange wedge or wheel, if desired.
- Be careful sipping it, it is freezing cold!
Storage
Orange Julius is best consumed fresh. I don’t recommend storing it.
Substitutions & Variations
- Add banana to bulk it up like a real smoothie.
- Add fresh strawberries for summer flavors or as garnish.
- Add pineapple. Orange and pineapple pair amazingly together. It can make a nice tropical mix, Pina Colada style.
- Add spinach to make a healthier, low in calories drink.
- Party version. Need to have fun? Add some vodka and make Orange Julius cocktails!
Expert Tips To Make The Best Orange Julius
- The recipe calls for a bit of water, but you can skip the water to make a creamier and thicker drink.
- You can technically use any juice concentrate, of any flavor, to make a variation of the Orange Julius recipe.
If you love thisย copycat drink recipe, youโre going to love these other copycat recipes too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!
More Great Desserts Using Oranges
CONNECT WITH YUMMI HAUS!
Be sure to follow me on my social media, so you never miss a post!
Orange Julius
Ingredients
- 1 ยฝ cups orange juice frozen in ice cube trays
- ยฝ cup milk
- ยผ cup water
- ยผ cup confectionerโs sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup ice cubes
- โ cup Greek yogurt optional, for extra creaminess
Instructions
- Prepare the orange juice by freezing in an ice cube tray for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Combine the frozen orange juice cubes, milk, water, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and ice cubes in a blender. Blend until smooth and creamy, adding more water if needed.
- Serve immediately. Garnish with an orange wedge or wheel, if desired.
Nutrition
Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate. Please double-check with your own dietary calculator for the best accuracy. We at Yummi Haus cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site.
Created by Gina Kleinworth
Reader Interactions
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Share Your Thoughts