✔ Updated · copycat recipe, step photos and pina colada version
My copycat Orange Julius is creamy, frothy and just a little citrusy, like an orange creamsicle you can sip through a straw. It takes five minutes and one blender.
At a glance
The one tip that matters: Use frozen concentrate, not regular orange juice. It gives that bright, zesty mall-stand flavor without watering the drink down.
Why You'll Love This Orange Julius
- Frothy and creamy, like a drinkable creamsicle.
- Five minutes, with ingredients you probably have.
- Easy to twist, into pina colada, mango or strawberry versions.
What Is an Orange Julius?
Is it a smoothie? A juice? A shake? A bit of all three. It's a frothy blend of orange, milk, vanilla and crushed ice that tastes like an orange creamsicle. My copycat version skips the powdered mix and uses frozen concentrate for that zesty flavor.
Step-by-Step Photos
Here's how it comes together. Exact amounts, times and temperatures are in the recipe card below.
Tips for Success
- Ice goes in last. Take it out of the freezer at the very end, so it stays hard and blends into fluffy snow, not watery slush.
- About the egg. Some copycat recipes add a raw egg for froth. I only ever use pasteurized egg white here, because it's never cooked. Skip it if you like; I often do, and it still tastes great.
- Ripe banana, thicker drink. Half a spotty banana makes it thicker and sweeter, so you can use less sugar.
- Stir if it separates. Orange and milk settle apart if it sits. A quick stir or a 5-second blitz brings it back.
- Chill the glasses. Ten minutes in the freezer keeps the froth standing up much longer.
Copycat Orange Julius
2
servings5
minutes250
kcal5
minutesA copycat Orange Julius: frozen orange juice concentrate, milk, water, a little sugar and vanilla blended with ice until thick and frothy, like a drinkable orange creamsicle. Add a ripe banana for extra body. Makes 2 large glasses.
Ingredients
6 ounces (half a 12 oz can) frozen orange juice concentrate, slightly thawed
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup cold water
2 to 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 ripe banana (optional, for extra body)
10 to 12 ice cubes
1 pasteurized egg white or 2 tablespoons pasteurized liquid egg white (optional, for extra froth)
whipped cream, to serve (optional)
Directions
- Add the orange juice concentrate, milk, water, sugar, vanilla and banana (if using) to a blender.
- Add the ice last, straight from the freezer, plus the pasteurized egg white if you want an extra-foamy top.
- Blend on high for 30 to 45 seconds, until thick, smooth and frothy with no ice chunks left.
- Pour into two tall glasses, top with whipped cream if you like and serve right away with a straw.
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Flavor Variations
- Pina colada Julius: half pineapple juice, plus 1/4 cup cream of coconut.
- Strawberry Julius: add 1 cup frozen strawberries.
- Mango Julius: swap half the concentrate for 1 cup frozen mango.
- Banana Julius: add a whole frozen banana and cut the ice by half.
More Drinks to Blend
Love a blender drink? Try my green machine smoothie, the peanut butter banana smoothie or a copycat McDonald's strawberry banana smoothie.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Orange Julius?
It's a frothy blended drink of orange juice, milk, sugar, vanilla and ice, sold at Orange Julius stands since the 1920s. It tastes like a creamy orange creamsicle and sits somewhere between a smoothie and a shake.
How do you make a pina colada Orange Julius?
Swap half the orange concentrate for 1/2 cup pineapple juice and add 1/4 cup cream of coconut. Blend with the milk, vanilla and ice as usual. It's sweet, tropical and very frothy.
Can you make an Orange Julius with alcohol?
Yes, for adults of legal drinking age. Add 1 ounce of vanilla vodka or rum to each glass before blending. The recipe as written is alcohol-free, so it's also the mocktail version.
Can I use regular orange juice?
You can, but the drink is thinner and less orangey. Use 1 1/2 cups orange juice, leave out the water and add extra ice. Frozen concentrate gives the classic flavor.
Can I make it dairy-free?
Yes. Use almond, oat or coconut milk instead of whole milk. Oat and coconut milk give the creamiest result.
