Let's make an Orange Julius recipe that is a refreshing and creamy citrus drink. It will transport you to summer days gone. Made with orange juice concentrate, milk, and vanilla extract, it's a simple and delicious treat for any time of year. Try it now and enjoy the delicious taste of nostalgia!
![A glass mug of Orange Julius with a strawberry and a slice of orange on the side.](https://www.devourdinner.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Orange-Julius_Devour-Dinner-106.jpg)
This Copycat Recipe of the Orange Julius Original Orange Drink is so delicious and accurate, you won't be able to tell the difference!
Made with just a few simple ingredients, this creamy drink is a perfectly refreshing treat.
This easy recipe only takes less than 5 minutes to prepare and blend, and it's a fancy drink you can serve to the entire family.
It's such a crowd-pleaser, so serve this Orange Julius drink on a hot summer day with friends and family or at your next BBQ!
Another delicious drink you should try this summer is my Mango Pineapple Smoothie (MacDonald's Copycat Recipe)!
For more fantastic orange flavors for summer, check out my Mandarin Orange Fluff Salad, this Fruit Charcuterie Board, and Spanish Salad with Poppyseed Dressing!
![Top view of three glass mugs of Orange Julius with a strawberry and a slice of orange on the side.](https://www.devourdinner.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Orange-Julius_Devour-Dinner-103.jpg)
Ingredients Needed for Orange Julius
Orange Juice. Use frozen Orange Juice Concentrate to get a great chilled, silky smooth texture.
Milk. Any milk will work well for this drink! Use whole milk for the creamiest flavor and texture.
Water & Ice Cubes. You'll need liquid water and frozen ice cubes to get the right consistency.
Almond Extract. Adds a subtle, nutty, flavor that blends well with the fresh orange taste!
Granulated Sugar. This is an important, not-so-secret secret ingredient for making this drink forthy!
Garnish. Use whipped cream, orange zest, strawberries, or slices of orange to decorate the glasses and garnish the drinks.
How to Make Orange Julius
Add the frozen orange concentrate, milk, water, almond extract, sugar, and ice cubes to a blender, and blend until the mixture is smooth.
Pour the mixture carefully into a glass.
![Orange Julius being poured into a glass mug, surrounded by slices of fresh orange.](https://www.devourdinner.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Orange-Julius_Devour-Dinner-101.jpg)
Add a slice of fresh orange and a strawberry wedged on the rim of the glass.
![A glass mug of Orange Julius with a strawberry and a slice of orange on the side.](https://www.devourdinner.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Orange-Julius_Devour-Dinner-104.jpg)
Top with whipped cream and/or orange zest, or leave plain.
![A glass mug of Orange Julius with a strawberry and a slice of orange on the side.](https://www.devourdinner.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Orange-Julius_Devour-Dinner-107.jpg)
FAQs
This frothy orange drink was created by Julius Freed in Los Angeles during the mid-1920s. He had a small orange juice stand, but due to a decline in sales, he needed to mix it up a bit. A sweeter, creamier, and frothier version of the acidic orange juice was developed, and by the late 1920s, it was a very popular drink.
In the original Orange Julius recipe, raw eggs were used to get the light and foamy consistency that the refreshing drink is famous for. In later years the original recipe was changed so that white egg powder was used instead. My copycat recipe doesn't use any egg products, as I've been able to get just the right amount of foaminess from using milk and granulated sugar instead of powdered sugar or other sweeteners.
In 1987, Dairy Queen bought over the Orange Julius company but kept the brand intact. They have added some DQ products to their OJ stores, so it's more convenient for you to get your sweet tooth satisfied!
The texture of an Orange Julius drink is similar to that of a fresh orange smoothie, but it tends to be sweeter and more dessert-like. It has a frothy, slightly frozen consistency and a flavor that's more like a creamsicle.
![Close up of a glass mug of Orange Julius with a strawberry and a slice of orange on the side and orange zest on top.](https://www.devourdinner.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Orange-Julius_Devour-Dinner-203.jpg)
Storage & Freezing
Storage: This easy Orange Julius recipe only takes 5 minutes to make, so make each batch fresh! The longer the drink sits, the more it will melt and lose its frothiness!
Freezing: YES! Freeze leftovers—or make a big batch and freeze half of it—in a popsicle mold to make Orange Julius Popsicles!
![A glass mug of Orange Julius with a strawberry and a slice of orange on the side.](https://www.devourdinner.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Orange-Julius_Devour-Dinner-201-1.jpg)
Substitutions & Variations
- Orange Juice. Don't use fresh orange juice in liquid form as it won't have the same strong orange flavor or texture as frozen concentrate. You can, however, make your own frozen orange juice concentrate substitute by pouring fresh orange juice into an ice cube tray and freezing it.
- Extract. Substitute the Vanilla Extract for Almond Extract.
- Ice Cream. Add 1 scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream to the blender for a thicker, creamier texture.
- Frozen Fruit. Use frozen fruit in place of ice cubes for a tropical smoothie blend.
- Milk. You can use any kind of milk for Orange Julius, even non-dairy milk, but you won't get the same results with each type. Whole milk will be the best for an accurate copycat, but you can use low-fat milk, coconut milk, soy milk, or almond milk if you prefer.
Pro Tips
Make sure to use chilled water to avoid melting the drink.
If the mixture is too thick, add additional water. Add a few tablespoons of water at a time to thin the consistency enough to blend smoothly.
![Close up of a glass mug of Orange Julius with a strawberry and a slice of orange on the side.](https://www.devourdinner.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Orange-Julius_Devour-Dinner-108.jpg)
Have you tried this Homemade Orange Julius recipe?
Please leave a comment below if you have tried making this recipe. I love to hear from you and enjoy reading about what you think. Be sure to tag @devourdinner when posting to social media. I can't wait to see your photos!
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- Dessert Pineapple Salsa
- No Bake Key Lime Cheesecake
- Pineapple Upside Down Cookies by Best Cookie Recipes
- Lemon Cookies
- Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting
- Fruit Pizza Cookies
Orange Julius Copycat Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 ounces Frozen Orange Juice Concentrate
- 1 cup Milk
- ½ cup Water
- 1 teaspoon Almond Extract
- ¼ cup Granulated Sugar - 50g
- 12-14 Ice Cubes
Instructions
- Add the frozen orange concentrate, milk, water, almond extract, sugar, and ice cubes to a blender.
- Blend until the mixture is smooth.
- Serve in glass.
- Top with whipped cream and/or orange zest, or leave plain.
Notes
- Storage: This easy Orange Julius recipe only takes 5 minutes to make, so make each batch fresh! The longer the drink sits, the more it will melt and lose its frothiness!
- Freezing: YES! Freeze leftovers—or make a big batch and freeze half of it—in a popsicle mold to make Orange Julius Popsicles!
Nutrition Disclaimer
All nutrition values are approximate and calculated by a plugin and are provided as a courtesy. Adding or subtracting ingredients will change the nutritional value.
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