I have massive childhood nostalgia for Orange Julius! As a child, it was my favorite treat to get at the mall with my mom. If you’ve never had it, it’s a frothy vanilla and orange juice smoothie that is so delicious.
I love to make this copycat recipe for my children. It tastes just like my childhood memory! And I really mean it tastes exactly like the original.
Additionally, I figured out a way to make it a bit healthier and I will share that as well.
Related: Wendy’s Frosty Recipe, Date Shake, Chocolate Banana Smoothie, Watermelon Smoothie, Banana Smoothie, Blueberry Smoothie, Dragon Fruit Smoothie, and 50+ Healthy Breakfast Ideas.
Ingredients in Orange Julius
- Orange Juice Concentrate – This is a the frozen kind—you can find it in the freezer section at the grocery store.
- Milk – I use almond milk. You can use your favorite dairy or non-dairy milk.
- Vanilla Extract – For that delicious vanilla flavor and scent.
- Sugar – For added sweetness. This is optional and I will explain below how it affects your recipe to leave it out.
- Ice Cubes
How to Make an Orange Julius
In a blender, combine the orange juice concentrate, sugar, milk, vanilla, and ice cubes.
Blend and pulse until completely smooth.
Serve immediately with an orange slice to garnish.
Tips for Making
- I know it can be tempting to skip the orange juice concentrate and replace with orange juice, but I think the concentrate is an essential element in this recipe. It’s worth a run to the store if you are thinking of making this recipe!
- You can add a little extra vanilla if you are like me and you always add extra vanilla.
- If you want to use a whole tube of OJ concentrate, just double this recipe.
Healthier Variation
I tested this recipe by omitting the added sugar completely. It is slightly less sweet and doesn’t taste exactly like the original recipe, but I still thought it was very delicious. If you want to add a little more nutrition, add a handful of frozen bananas.
Serving Suggestions/Goes Great With
Other summer recipes you may like:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an Orange Julius have in it?
Our recipe is made with orange juice concentrate, milk, sugar, vanilla, and ice cubes.
Did the original Orange Julius have raw eggs in it?
Yes. The original recipe for Orange Julius, developed in 1929, contained raw eggs to create a frothy texture. The recipe was updated in the 1980s for food safety reasons.
Can you make Orange Julius healthy?
To make the Orange Julius more of a smoothie with increased nutrition, I recommend omitting the sugar and replacing it with frozen bananas.
Get our FREE recipe guide with our most popular recipes of all time!
Free Popular Recipe Guide
Our top 25 recipes of all time!
Get the Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 ounces orange juice concentrate
- 1 cup milk (dairy or non-dairy )
- ¼ cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup ice cubes
Equipment
- 1 Blender
Instructions
- In a blender, combine orange juice concentrate, sugar, milk, vanilla, and ice cubes.
- Blend and pulse until completely smooth.
- Serve immediately with an orange slice to garnish.
Notes
- I know it can be tempting to skip the orange juice concentrate and replace with orange juice, but I think the concentrate is an essential element in this recipe. It’s worth a run to the store if you are thinking of making this recipe!
- You can add a little extra vanilla if you are like me and you always add extra vanilla.
- If you want to use a whole tube of OJ concentrate, just double this recipe.
Nutrition
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.
Wow these are delicious! I recently moved back to my hometown and took my little sister to the mall hoping to get an orange julius, but it was closed down. This made me so happy!
I never really drank a lot of Orange Julius, but this is delicious!
This sounds amazing! I NEED to ry.
I love these!!! Thanks for the recipe!
This reminds me of childhood so much!
Omg Elsie. I, too remember Orange Julius from the mall. Those were the good old days. I haven’t had one in forever and so look forward to making this with my kids this weekend. Thank you for a reminder throwback to a sweet treat and simpler times.