Name: Homemade Orange Julius Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1 cup frozen orange juice concentrate (9 oz, rounded cup); 1 cup milk; 1/2 cup water; 1/2 cup sugar; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 4-5 cups ice cubes

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Orange Julius recipe made EASY! Just 5 ingredients & 5 minutes to enjoy a refreshing, sweet, citrusy frozen beverage at home. Perfect orange flavor and simple instructions with video that show how to make an Orange Julius.

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This recipe is my mother-in-law’s and was a favorite of my husband’s growing up. It tastes just like the real thing! It’s an inexpensive, refreshing summer treat that I hope you all enjoy.

The recipe below fills my blender to the brim and makes 4-5 large servings. It also calls for 9 oz of frozen orange juice concentrate. Normal cans of concentrate are 12 oz, so plan on using 2/3 of the container.

What is an Orange Julius?

An Orange Julius is a frozen orange slush drink that tastes like a combination of oranges and vanilla- think of a creamsicle in slushy form! The sweet, citrusy flavor makes for a refreshing drink that’s half milk shake, half smoothie. They’re delicious! They were made popular by the restaurant, Orange Julius that frequented malls not long ago.

Ingredients for an Orange Julius

Here’s what you need to make a batch of Orange Julius drinks:

–12-oz container of frozen orange juice concentrate

–milk

–vanilla extract

–granulated sugar

–cold water

–ice cubes

How to Make an Orange Julius

Making Orange Julius’ at home is so easy! First, you’ll need to assemble your ingredients.

Add the ingredients to your blender in the order listed below. I just scoop out 2/3 the container of orange juice concentrate with a spoon.

Blend until smooth.

Serve topped with orange slices and whipped cream, if desired.

What milk is best?

I’ve used a wide variety of milk when making frozen drinks. I think regular milk is best for orange julius because it doesn’t contribute to the flavor, instead it just adds a creamier consistency. I’ve used almond milk and it does take away from the citrus flavor a bit. I recommend adding a bit more orange if you use almond milk, or any other type of dairy-free nut milk that has a stronger flavor.

Can I use orange juice instead of orange juice concentrate?

This recipe calls for orange juice concentrate because it pairs with ice cubes so more intense flavor is needed. If you don’t have orange juice concentrate and really want to substitute orange juice instead, I recommend freezing the juice into ice cubes and replacing the regular ice cubes.

Can I use honey or agave instead of sugar?

Yes, you can replace the 1/2 cup sugar with 1/4 cup honey or agave. Your drink will have a slightly different flavor, but it will still be fantastic!

When to serve Orange Julius

Orange Julius drinks are great any time fo the day, but we mostly enjoy them as an afternoon snack or as a refreshing after dinner summertime treat. I think they’d be wonderful served at breakfast time too!

What can I do with leftovers?

If you manage to have some orange julius left over, you can just place the rest in the freezer to enjoy it later on. My kids also love it when I pour leftovers into popsicle molds!

How can I make Orange Julius healthy?

While they taste incredible, Orange Julius’ aren’t typically considered healthy. Here are a few things I’ve done to increase the nutrients:

Make sure your concentrate is made from 100% fruit juice. You’re welcome to buy your favorite brand!
Add 1-2 TBSP chia seeds
Swap out the sugar with 1/4 cup agave
Reduce the orange juice concentrate and add orange essential oil instead
Add 1-2 cups of frozen spinach or kale- this might make your drink less sweet and less orange colored, just fyi!

What type of blender should I use?

Since you’re blending 4-5 cups of ice cubes, along with a few other ingredients, it’s important to use a good blender. Blendtec and Vitamix are two popular high powered blenders, but Oster makes good blenders as well! If you don’t have a high powdered blender, add in half the ice cubes, blend until smooth, then add in the rest and repeat. You might have to stir the ingredients in the blender once or twice.