Strawberry Banana Orange Julius
Published
Published
This Strawberry Banana Orange Julius is cold, creamy, frothy, and exactly what I want in my glass once summer hits. It’s blended with two different milks, vanilla, strawberry juice concentrate, banana, and ice for a sweet strawberry-banana drink that tastes like a retro mall smoothie, but without any egg whites, powder mix, or trip to Dairy Queen. Finish it with whipped cream and a fresh strawberry, and you’ve got a fruity 5-minute blender drink made for hot afternoons!
Pin this now to find it later
Pin ItThis post may contain affiliate links. If you click on one and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we genuinely love.
This homemade strawberry banana orange Julius has the same creamy, frothy feel as the classic mall drink, but without the orange flavor. Instead, this version uses frozen strawberry juice concentrate and banana for a refreshing strawberry and banana twist! I also use sweetened condensed milk instead of granulated sugar which adds richness and sweetness without making the drink gritty, and ice to help thicken everything up so it’s cold, smooth, and perfect for sipping through a straw.
If you want the classic orange version, my orange Julius is the one to make. This version keeps the creamy finish but makes strawberry and banana the star!
Helpful Tips
- Use the frozen strawberry concentrate while it’s only partially thawed. It should be soft enough to scoop or pour, but still cold and slushy. I like it this way because it helps keep the texture of your strawberry banana Julius thick and frosty.
- Don’t skip the sweetened condensed milk. Some copycat Julius recipes are sweetened with granulated sugar or instant pudding mix, but I use sweetened condensed milk instead because it blends in smoothly and gives the drink a richer, creamier texture. It also helps soften the tartness from the frozen strawberry juice concentrate.
- Frozen banana works best. It blends into the drink, adds natural banana flavor, and helps create a thicker, creamier smoothie texture without watering it down.
- Blend just until smooth and foamy. Once the ice is crushed and the drink looks creamy and pale pink, it’s ready. Overblending can make it thinner as the ice melts.
- Adjust the texture if needed. If it’s too thick for your blender, add a small splash of milk. If you want it thicker, add a few extra ice cubes or frozen banana slices.
- Serve it right away. This drink is best immediately after blending, while it’s cold, creamy, and frothy on top!
Strawberry Banana Orange Julius
Equipment
- Blender
- 2 Glasses , about 16 ounce each
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1½ tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ cup sweetened condensed milk
- 6 oz. can frozen strawberry juice concentrate, partially thawed (see notes)
- ⅓ cup frozen banana slices
- 1½ cups ice
- piped whipped cream, for garnish
- 2 whole fresh strawberries, for garnish
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 a fresh strawberry, and enjoy with a straw!
Notes
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 Strawberry Banana Orange Julius Step by Step
Gather all of your ingredients.
Blend the ingredients: Pour 1 cup whole milk, ¼ cup sweetened condensed milk, and 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract into a blender first. Adding the liquids first helps the blades move more easily and keeps the frozen ingredients from getting stuck. Spoon in a small 6-ounce can frozen strawberry juice concentrate (partially thawed), ⅓ cup frozen banana slices, and 1½ cups ice.
Blend on medium-high for a few seconds, or until the ice is fully crushed and the drink looks creamy, pale pink, and lightly foamy on top. Stop as soon as it’s smooth so the ice doesn’t melt too much and thin out the Julius.
Pour and serve: Divide the strawberry banana Julius smoothie between two large glasses (about 16-ounce). Top each one with piped whipped cream and a fresh strawberry, then serve right away with a straw while it’s still cold and frothy. Enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
I love this strawberry banana orange Julius on a hot summer day. It’s the perfect little treat to cool down with, but I also think it makes such a fun brunch drink, pool party sip, or cocktail alternative! This recipe makes 2 large drinks (I use 16-ounce glasses), and top each one with piped whipped cream and a fresh strawberry. They’d also be delicious paired with a fruit platter and my fruit dip, or served with easy sugar cookies for a sweet strawberry shortbread-style treat.
Storing Leftovers
This strawberry banana orange Julius is best enjoyed right after blending, while it’s still cold and creamy. It’s easy to half the ingredients used if you only need one drink at a time. As it sits, the ice melts and the drink starts to separate.
If you do have leftovers, transfer them to an airtight jar or cup and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Shake well or re-blend with a few ice cubes before serving. You can also pour leftovers into popsicle molds and freeze them for a fun strawberry banana frozen treat!
More Creamy Smoothie Recipes
- This Blueberry Smoothie gets its extra-creamy texture from yogurt and raspberry sorbet, so it tastes more like a fruity treat than a plain breakfast drink.
- I like to keep the ingredients for this Pineapple Smoothie in the freezer for an easy summer breakfast or afternoon snack!
- My Mango Smoothie gets its bright flavor from orange juice, frozen mango, and frozen peaches.
- This Chocolate Banana Smoothie uses Greek yogurt and peanut butter, so it has a little more staying power than a fruit-only smoothie.
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!
