This classic Orange Julius recipe is an easy, delicious smoothie made with frozen orange juice concentrate, milk, water, sugar, vanilla, and ice. It’s frothy, creamy, cool, and sweet—perfect if you love an orange creamsicle.
Orange juice for breakfast gets an upgrade with this frothy orange drink. If you enjoy citrus, pair it with orange rolls for a complete breakfast treat.
This is one of those simple recipes I first learned in home economics—straightforward enough that a teenager can prepare it, and anyone can enjoy it.
Growing up, we reserved homemade Orange Julius for special breakfasts. It remains a favorite for its simplicity: creamy, frothy, and sweet with bright citrus flavor.
What is an Orange Julius?
Orange Julius began as an American beverage stand known for its creamy orange drink, named after its founder, Julius Freed. Many people remember finding these stands in shopping malls; today they are often found alongside other quick-service chains.
Traditionally, some early recipes included egg whites to add extra foam. This copycat version omits egg whites while still delivering a rich, creamy texture and strong orange flavor.
To make it, combine frozen orange juice concentrate, milk, water, sugar, vanilla, and ice in a blender and mix until smooth and frothy.
If you’d prefer to use fresh orange juice or make a dairy-free version, there are adaptations that swap the concentrate and milk for fresh juice and plant-based milk.
More Orange Julius Flavors
This smoothie adapts well to other fruits. Add fresh or frozen fruit and reduce ice as needed. Ideas:
- Orange Banana – add half to a whole banana for a creamy banana note.
- Strawberry Orange – add 1–2 cups of fresh strawberries for a berry twist.
- Strawberry Orange Banana – combine 1 banana and 1 cup strawberries.
- Pineapple Orange – add 1 cup fresh pineapple for a tropical flavor.
NOTE: If using frozen fruit, reduce the ice so the blender can handle the mixture smoothly.
Classic Orange Julius
Ingredients
- 6 oz (178 ml) frozen orange juice concentrate, (1/2 can)
- 1 cup (237 ml) COLD water
- 1 cup (237 ml) milk
- ⅓ cup (68 g) granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups (480 g) ice
Equipment
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Blender
Instructions
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Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth and frothy. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Do not double the recipe in one batch unless you have a very large blender; prepare in separate batches if needed.
- Try adding 1/2 a banana for extra creaminess and flavor.
Nutrition
Disclaimer: Nutritional values are estimates calculated with a third-party tool.
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*Originally published 5/31/12. Updated 6/26/20.