This recipe for a simple copycat Orange Julius is super creamy, frothy and refreshing. And just like the original, it tastes like a cold melted creamsicle - yum!
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Copycat Orange Julius Recipe
If you are an Orange Julius fan, you will be pleasantly surprised to find out just how easy peasy they are to make. And, if you aren’t familiar with them in the first place, you’re welcome! An Orange Julius is the perfect chilly sweet treat to enjoy in the backyard on a hot summer day.
Our copycat version is made by blending milk, water, frozen orange concentrate, sugar, vanilla and ice - no raw egg! It's frothy, creamy, sweet and totally refreshing for both kids and adults. If you’re on the hunt for more amazing smoothie recipes, we’ve got you covered with this tropical version.
What is an Orange Julius?
An Orange Julius is a cold drink made by blending a mixture of orange juice, sugar, vanilla, egg whites and ice. It's creamy, frothy and became super popular somewhere around the 1960s when Orange Julius stands began to pop up at state fairs. Now it is owned by Dairy Queen and there are hundreds of stores, mostly in North America and parts of Asia.
The original Orange Julius was made in Los Angeles at an orange juice stand in the 1920s. The owner had made a recipe for a version of orange juice that was creamier, frothier and less acidic than plain orange juice (thanks to the dairy) and his sales skyrocketed.
Ingredients for Making Orange Julius
- Milk - use either whole or 2% milk in this recipe.
- Water - cold water is best.
- Vanilla Extract - pure vanilla extract has the best flavor.
- Sugar - we use regular white granulated sugar.
- Frozen Orange Juice Concentrate - any brand will work.
- Ice - cubes or crushed will work.
How to Make Orange Julius at Home
- Blend ingredients. Add the milk, water, vanilla extract, sugar and orange juice concentrate to a blender and blend until well-mixed.
- Blend in the ice. Add the ice and blend until smooth.
- Serve. Pour into individual glasses and serve with a straw. Enjoy!
Variations
- Orange Julius with ice cream. Add in a couple scoops of vanilla ice cream to make your homemade Orange Julius into an extra creamy sweet treat.
- Strawberry Orange Julius. Add 1 cup of fresh or frozen strawberries to the mixture.
- Other frozen concentrates. You can make all sorts of flavors using different frozen concentrates. Limeade, lemonade and pineapple would all taste delicious!
- Dairy-free. To make this dairy-free, just substitute coconut milk for the regular milk in the recipe.
Can You Make Orange Julius with Fresh Orange Juice?
Sure! The finished drink won’t have quite the same texture or strong orange flavor but it will still be totally delicious. All you need to do is skip the water and frozen concentrate and replace with 1 quart of fresh orange juice instead.
More Family Friendly Recipes for Summer Drinks
Homemade Orange Julius Recipe
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 1 cup Milk
- 1 cup Water
- ½ teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- ½ cup Sugar
- 12 ounces Frozen Orange Juice Concentrate
- 2 cups Ice
Instructions
- Add the milk, water, vanilla extract, sugar and orange juice concentrate to a blender and blend until well-mixed.
- Add the ice and blend until smooth.
- Pour into individual glasses and serve with a straw. Enjoy!
Nutrition
More of Our Favorite Copycat Recipes
- Chipotle Black Beans {Copycat}
- Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup
- Cafe Rio Sweet Pork
- Chipotle Chicken Burrito
- Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice
- Olive Garden Gnocchi Soup
- Chipotle Chicken
- Chipotle Spicy Carne Asada
- Cafe Rio Sweet Pork
- Double Tree Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Chocolate Fondue
- More Drink Recipes
- More Dessert Recipes
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This homemade Orange Julius is the perfect chilly sweet treat to enjoy in the backyard on a hot summer day. It's frothy, creamy, sweet and totally refreshing for both kids and adults.
Cindi
My kids loved it, next we're going to try it with the adults for a backyard bbq this weekend! tysm for sharing
Jill Baird
So fun! Have a great BBQ!
michelle
yes! this is bringing me back to my childhood and I am in LOVE!
Jill Baird
It was a staple in my childhood too! So delicious!