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    Home » Drinks

    Orange Julius

    By Jill Baird · Published July 12, 2021 · Updated January 16, 2023 · 4 Comments

    Orange Julius recipe in a glass cup

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    Jump to Recipe

    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!

    A glass with orange julius being poured into it.
    Jump to:
    • Copycat Orange Julius Recipe
    • What is an Orange Julius?
    • Ingredients for Making Orange Julius
    • How to Make Orange Julius at Home
    • Variations
    • Homemade Orange Julius Recipe

    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 smoothies, we’ve got you covered. Be sure to try our Strawberry Orange Julius, Blue Smoothie Bowl, and our copycat Disney Dole Whip Recipe.

    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.
    Three photos showing the ingredients to make an Orange Julius, a blender about to blend everything and a blender from the top once finished.

    How to Make Orange Julius at Home

    1. Blend ingredients. Add the milk, water, vanilla extract, sugar and orange juice concentrate to a blender and blend until well-mixed.
    2. Blend in the ice. Add the ice and blend until smooth.
    3. Serve. Pour into individual glasses and serve with a straw. Enjoy!
    A table with an Orange Julius poured into a glass with a straw.

    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 Drink Recipes

    • Disney Copycat Dole Whip
    • Virgin Strawberry Pina Colada
    • Mint Lemonade
    • Breakfast Punch
    • Tropical Breakfast Punch
    Orange Julius recipe in a glass cup
    Print

    Homemade Orange Julius Recipe

    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.
    Course Drinks
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time 10 minutes minutes
    Servings 6 people
    Calories 180kcal
    Author The Carefree Kitchen

    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

    Calories: 180kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 25mg | Potassium: 437mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 40g | Vitamin A: 281IU | Vitamin C: 78mg | Calcium: 68mg | Iron: 1mg

    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

    If you’ve tried this recipe, please rate it and leave a comment on this post. I love hearing feedback from you helps me and other readers too! If you love Pinterest, feel free to leave a comment and photo there too. Also, if you like to share, use the hashtag #thecarefreekitchen on Instagram and tag me @thecarefreekitchen so I can find you and give your post some love. You can also find me on Facebook at The Carefree Kitchen. Thank you!!

    Pinterest pin for Orange Julius.

    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.

    « Chocolate No-Bake Cookies
    Honey Soy Drumsticks »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Cindi

      July 13, 2021 at 9:00 am

      My kids loved it, next we're going to try it with the adults for a backyard bbq this weekend! tysm for sharing

      Reply
      • Jill Baird

        July 21, 2021 at 9:02 am

        So fun! Have a great BBQ!

        Reply
    2. michelle

      July 13, 2021 at 7:58 am

      yes! this is bringing me back to my childhood and I am in LOVE!

      Reply
      • Jill Baird

        July 21, 2021 at 9:03 am

        It was a staple in my childhood too! So delicious!

        Reply

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