Orange Julius
Updated
Updated
This Orange Julius recipe is a creamy smoothie full of flavor, with the perfect sweet and tart combination. Enjoy this drink for breakfast, brunch, an afternoon snack, or even a light dessert. It takes only minutes to make with just 4 ingredients and some ice!
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5 STAR REVIEW
Oranges (and bananas) are easily my least favorite fruit to enjoy in their native form, but put them in a dessert or a drink like this Orange Julius, and all bets are off. I could have a glass of this every day and never get tired of it. Sweet, tart, creamy, refreshing, and citrusy.
What is an Orange Julius?
Most people probably associate an Orange Julius with their teenage years and hanging out at the local mall, which usually had at least one (if not two) juice stands selling this drink. Good times! Its creation dates back to the 1920’s in Los Angeles, where Southern California is well known for their orange groves (a la Orange County.)
An Orange Julius is a blended frozen drink where sweetened orange concentrate is the star. It’s a cross between a drink, milkshake, and smoothie – it tastes like a creamsicle! If you can’t find one at the mall, though, you’re in luck, because this drink is super easy to make at home in minutes.
Helpful Tips & Variations
- Whole milk. I use whole milk for a thicker consistency and richer taste, but you can use 2% or even skim and it will still be delicious.
- Frozen orange juice concentrate. Minute Maid is discontinuing theirs, but there are other brands who make it! I use Old Orchard. It’s not diluted with water. You’re using the frozen concentrate, as is. This not only makes the drink cold and icy, but it gives the drink the best concentrated (obviously) orange flavor.
- Sweetener. The original Orange Julius used a scoop of “secret sugar powder” which most people who worked there, say was similar to instant vanilla Jello powder. Some people also use granulated sugar. I think it gives the drink a sort of grainy texture, so I use sweetened condensed milk instead for the ultra creamy feel and rich flavor! Regardless, don’t skip a sweetener – you need it to balance out the tart citrus.
- Ice. Crushed ice blends easier, but cubed is fine. The more ice you use, the thicker the drink will be, but it will also water it down. Your call!
- Use fresh orange juice. You can make this drink with fresh orange juice instead of frozen orange juice concentrate. It will produce a thinner drink and the orange flavor won’t be as wonderful, but it is still good. Just replace the orange juice concentrate and water called for in the recipe with 2 cups of fresh orange juice. You can also freeze orange juice in ice cube trays, which will help get closer to the ideal texture.
Orange Julius Drink
Equipment
- Blender
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup sweetened condensed milk , (see note)
- 6 ounce can frozen orange juice concentrate, partially thawed (see note)
- 1½ cups ice
- raw egg or egg white powder, optional (see note)
- Whipped cream, for garnish, optional
- Orange slices, for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a blender, in the order listed.
- Blend on medium-high speed for a few seconds until smooth and frothy.
- Pour into glasses.
- Garnish with whipped cream and/or an orange slice, and enjoy with a straw!
Notes
- Frozen orange juice concentrate. Minute Maid is discontinuing theirs, but there are other brands who make it! I use Old Orchard.
- Sweetener. Some people use instant vanilla Jello powder, while others use granulated sugar. I think it gives the drink a sort of grainy texture, so I use sweetened condensed milk instead for the ultra creamy feel and rich flavor! Either way, don’t skip a sweetener – you need it to balance out the tart citrus.
- Add in other frozen fruits. Blend in frozen banana slices, strawberries, or pineapple for different flavor combinations and a thicker shake.
- Need it dairy free? You can replace the whole milk with an equal amount of coconut milk for a dairy-free version.
- Try yogurt. Replace the 1 cup milk with 2 cups vanilla Greek yogurt and omit the ice, for an even creamier, tangy drink.
- Add in a raw egg. The original orange julius gave you the option of having a raw egg blended into the mixture. Because of salmonella, I believe they switched to an egg white powder. We don’t make ours with either of of those ingredients, but you certainly can.
Nutrition
Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and any changes you make to the recipe. If these numbers are very important to you, I would recommend calculating them yourself.
Did you make this? Leave a rating below!How to Make Orange Julius Step By Step
Gather your ingredients.
To a blender in this order, add 1 cup whole milk, 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract, ⅓ cup sweetened condensed milk, 6 ounce can partially thawed orange juice concentrate, and 1½ cups ice.
Blend on medium-high speed for a few seconds until smooth and frothy. Pour into glasses. Garnish with whipped cream and/or an orange slice, and enjoy with a straw!
Other Refreshing Drink Recipes
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Wow! I love it! Very tasty! It brings back memories when I was young & hanging out at the mall when Orange Julius was one of my favorite treats! Thanks for the recipe Amy!
Loved the orange julius…just like I remembered. I also made your Salisbury steak and that was wonderful also.
This tasted spot on!! Wow, what a trip down memory lane. Thank you so much for sharing!
I am so happy to get this recipe. I also remember orange Julius. We lived one block fom our local orange Julius and my dad and I walked there almost every day. What happy memories this brings me. AND the recipe is delicious. Thank you so much.
I’m having lunch tomorrow with 5 friends, (we are all older than 60, but 3 of us are 75+) My treat will be to bring the ingredients to make this for all of us. And what a treat. We are going to blow our diets and re-live our much younger days. Yummy. We are so tired of the salads and, oh so, healthy foods. I’ll be the star tomorrow!!!!!
What kind of sweetner
The sweetened condensed milk is the sweetener
Great recipe! I added a shot of Smirnoff orange flavored vodka. Very tasty!
Love this recipe.
Thanks for this recipe. I loved getting Orange Juice when they were at the mall.
2 days ago I was trying to remember my mom’s diy OJ. Today I’m looking for something else and bam there you were! Perfect timing. My mom used the fz oj,milk,sugar,vanilla and ice.It was the milk I wasnt sure of so thx so much! Perfect blast from the past!!
Great recipe thanks
This is a great recipe. Instead of sugar . Use the powdered dream whip in the baking section of the grocery store.
How much Dream Whip – the entire envelope?
For an adult version could you put a little vodka in it?
Sure!
I made this as written and it was wonderful. I’m also trying it again with a 1/2 cup powdered sugar instead.
a little too sweet for my taste
but really good with pineapple concentrate
I made this last night, Amy, and it was spot on!! My first job was at a theater located next to an Orange Julius so this recipe (which I followed exactly) brought back many happy memories.
Thank you so much for the recipe. My mother did use an egg in her homemade version, and powder sugar to stop the grit. I haven’t made it in a few years, and needed measurements again. Yours with the egg and powdered sugar brought my mom’s back. Thank you!
I took my 10 year old school clothes shopping, as we were walking around she asked what is Orange Julius. I told her the best drink you could get from the mall in the 80’s, I also told her I’ll make some at home. Found your recipe and a few others but, I tried yours because I like that it doesn’t ask for any suger. Big hit with everyone!!
Loved this.
I remember going tot the mall in the 80’s .I couldnt tell you how many Strawberry Julius Drinks I drank but is so good! Glad to see this now to make memories once again!
I’ve never had an orange julius so I can’t compare, but I did make this for my girls and we all loved it!
When I was a kid, we would go to Santa Cruz Ca. on the boardwalk they had a orange Julius stand, loved em then, still love em today.
Tastes just like those creamsicles we used to get from the ice cream truck! YUMMY!
I have always Loved Orange Julius!!!!! If I wanted to use real sugar, how much would I measure instead of Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk? It’s really good this way, just not quite like the original.
Hi Cheryl – you’d use 1/2 cup granulated sugar for this recipe.
Made this today – it was DELICIOUS!
Hadn’t had one in over 30 years – used to get one every day, we loved them! This post brought back great memories.
Can i use freshly squeezed orange juice for this recipe
Hi Karen – I haven’t tested it with fresh orange juice, but I’m sure it would be fine, although a looser consistency so you’ll probably want to add a bit more ice.
Do you think powdered sugar could be used instead of granulated to avoid the grittiness? If so, would it be the same amount – 1/2 cup?
you can also dissolve the sugar in a little warm milk. stir until dissolved and chill for a few minutes
Yep, an Orange Julius & a pretzel or hot dog. Loved the mall days! I remember the original had an egg, but because of all the salmonella they stopped using raw eggs and went to powdered eggs. I actually love that this recipe doesn’t include either. Thanks for this!
LOVE this drink, thank you!