This Homemade Orange Julius recipe is made with rich orange juice concentrate, velvety vanilla ice cream, a touch of sweetness from sugar, and a dash of vanilla extract, all blended together. This nod to the popular drink delivers the perfect fusion of citrusy zest and luscious creaminess, perfect for a cool and satisfying treat.
You may be familiar with the classic drink we remember from the Orange Julius stores in the mall food court. The original drink is a closely guarded secret, but we’ve recreated the signature flavors using simple ingredients that are readily available. In this easy Orange Julius recipe, I’ve added vanilla ice cream for a thicker, creamier version of this much-loved citrusy drink!
Of course, this refreshing treat can be easily reduced in richness if you’d prefer a thinner drink. And in case you’re wondering…yes, it can also be made with vodka if the adult version sounds like an appealing option to you – simply scroll down below to where I give suggestions on how to make it or check out our Boozy Creamsicle Float. This fruity, milkshake-like version pays homage to the original Orange Julius recipe while making for a more decadent treat to be enjoyed on a hot Summer day by kids and adults alike.
If you love ice cream-inspired treats, then consider trying this Cookie Monster Ice Cream, Peanut Butter Whiskey and Root Beer Float, or Copycat Mac and Cheese Ice Cream!
🍊 Ingredients:
- Can of frozen orange juice concentrate – The frozen concentrate adds an extra chill factor for a refreshing drink!
- Granulated sugar
- Whole milk – Coconut milk or almond milk can be used. Low-fat milk is another option, although whole milk creates a creamier texture.
- Vanilla ice cream
- Vanilla extract
- Ice cubes
For a full list of ingredients and their measurements, 📋 please view my printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Optional Garnish:
Garnish this creamy drink with an orange slice and a sprinkle of orange zest.
Substitutions and Variations
- Adding vanilla ice cream and milk provides a rich creaminess to this drink, making it more of a treat with a thicker consistency! If you want to reduce the overall creamy richness of this recipe, then simply omit the ice cream and increase the milk by ½ cup.
- You can add more ice if you’d like to dilute the mixture or make it icier, like a blended smoothie.
- Vary this recipe by adding other frozen fruit combinations like frozen banana, and berries or fresh fruit like pineapple.
- Make this fresh orange smoothie dairy-free using plant-based milk and dairy-free ice cream.
- Add protein powder or whey protein for a healthy orange Julius recipe.
- Pour the blended mixture into a popsicle mold for an easy frozen afternoon snack.
🔪 Instructions:
PREP: Gather ingredients. Chill glasses in the freezer for 10-15 minutes before preparing the homemade Orange Julius recipe, if desired.
Step 1: Add the basic ingredients to the blender.
Step 2: Blend until smooth.
Step 3: Pour the frothy smoothie into serving glasses.
Step 4: Serve immediately while still chilled with a frothy texture.
GARNISH: Garnish each delicious drink with fresh oranges and decorative straws.
- Don’t skip the vanilla extract or the vanilla ice cream, as they give this drink that signature orange Julius or orange creamsicle flavor.
- I recommend using a high-quality blender (like Vitamix) to ensure that all the ingredients are blended into a smooth, creamy consistency, much like the classic orange Julius.
- If you serve these for a special occasion, consider serving them in something like Mason Jar Mugs with cute paper straws. You can also add a slice of orange to the rim of the glass.
Fun Fact
While the original Orange Julius was named after an orange juice salesman “Julius Freed”, it was, in actual fact, his real estate agent that came up with the original recipe and invested in Freed’s beverage business with the Orange Julius soon after becoming the flagship drink of what then became a very popular franchise, bought over today by Dairy Queen. If you’d like to read the full history of how the classic Orange Julius came to be, then have a read of this very informative article here.
Recipe FAQs
No. Since this drink contains dairy products, I highly recommend, for food safety purposes, that you make it just prior to serving and that it be enjoyed in one sitting.
While I don’t suggest refrigerating any leftovers, you do have the option of freezing the leftovers and then enjoying them later on as a frozen treat that can be scooped into ice cream cones or served in a bowl with some ice cream wafers. You can also put the frozen mixture back into a blender and reblend.
Well, yes and no. An Orange Julius in its truest form actually doesn’t contain ice cream as an orange milkshake does. Instead, it’s a combination of orange juice, milk, sweetener, powdered egg whites, and some vanilla flavoring.
My take on the Orange Julius drink does, however, resemble an orange milkshake to an extent since it makes use of ice cream.
There’s a simple explanation for why you may have experienced curdling when mixing your ingredients. Both the orange concentrate and the milk and ice cream need to be at the same temperature when mixed together to prevent any possible curdling.
Since I make use of ice cream in this Orange Julius recipe, I made sure to add frozen orange concentrate straight to the blender with the other cold ingredients. If you add room-temperature orange juice to ice cream and chilled milk, then you risk ending up with a curdled drink instead!
Yes, you can!! To make an adult Orange Julius simply omit the ice cream and increase the milk by ½ cup. Then add in ½ cup of vodka, and you now have the adult version of this Orange Julius beverage.
Other Fruity Drinks
If you tried this Homemade Orange Julius Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you liked it in the 📝 comments below.
Orange Julius Recipe
Ingredients
- 12 oz. frozen orange juice concentrate
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup whole milk
- 1 cup vanilla ice cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups of ice cubes
Instructions
- Blend together orange juice concentrate, sugar, milk, ice cream, vanilla, and ice cubes.
- Pour into glasses and serve immediately.
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Notes
- Don’t skip the vanilla extract or the vanilla ice cream, as they give this drink that signature orange Julius or orange creamsicle flavor.
- I recommend using a high-quality blender (like Vitamix) to ensure that all the ingredients are blended into a smooth, creamy consistency, much like the classic orange Julius.
Nutrition
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