Delish Orange Julius Drinks

This is basically the mall classic in a blender—bright, frothy, a little creamy, and just… happy. An Orange Julius is the kind of drink that tastes like summer vacation in a plastic cup. It’s sweet but not cloying, citrusy without the pucker, and it comes together in five minutes with pantry stuff. The trick is using frozen orange juice concentrate so it’s extra orangey and icy-cold. If you’ve never made one at home, prepare to become the “can you make that orange thing?” person in your house.

My little crew goes feral for this. Saturday mornings, I’m flipping pancakes and my husband is already moving the blender to the edge of the counter like he’s on a mission. The kids call it the “orange cloud drink,” which is adorable and wildly accurate. One time we ran out of sugar and I used maple syrup, and they swore it tasted like a creamsicle from a tree. It’s also my emergency “everyone’s cranky” fix—hit blend, pass out straws, and the mood lifts like magic.

How to Make It

Grab your blender and toss in half a can of frozen orange juice concentrate (6 ounces), a cup of cold water, and a cup of milk. I do 2–3 tablespoons of sugar or honey, a splash of vanilla (about a teaspoon), and a tiny pinch of salt because it wakes everything up. If you want that over-the-top mall froth, add 2 tablespoons of pasteurized egg whites or a spoonful of Greek yogurt—optional, but whoa, the foam.

Pulse it for like five seconds so the sweet stuff dissolves. Then add 1½ to 2 cups of ice. Blend on high until it’s thick and cloudy and you can’t see ice chips—20 to 30 seconds, tops. Stop before it turns watery. Taste. If it’s too tangy, add a touch more sweet; if it’s sweet-sweet, toss in a couple ice cubes and blitz again. Pour into tall glasses and brace yourself for vanishing acts. Makes 2 big or 3–4 small.

✔Ingredient Notes

– Frozen orange juice concentrate: The whole secret. Still frozen = icy, strong orange flavor. If it’s thawed, you’ll need more ice.
– Milk (dairy or non-dairy): 2% gets that classic creaminess. Almond or oat works great if dairy isn’t your thing.
– Sugar or honey: Start small and bump up. Some concentrates are sweeter than others—taste and tweak.
– Vanilla extract: Not optional if you want that nostalgic mall vibe. It rounds out the citrus.
– Ice: Use fresh ice (not the freezer-burnt stuff). Cloudy ice = cloudy flavor, sorry.
– Pinch of salt: Tiny but mighty. Makes everything pop without tasting salty.
– Pasteurized egg whites or Greek yogurt (optional): For extra froth. Use pasteurized whites for safety, or yogurt if eggs aren’t your thing.

✔Recipe Steps

1. Add 6 oz frozen orange juice concentrate, 1 cup cold water, and 1 cup milk to a blender.
2. Spoon in 2–3 tbsp sugar or honey, 1 tsp vanilla, and a small pinch of salt.
3. Optional: Add 2 tbsp pasteurized egg whites or 2 tbsp Greek yogurt for extra froth.
4. Blend 5 seconds to dissolve the sweetener.
5. Add 1½–2 cups ice and blend 20–30 seconds until frothy and smooth.
6. Taste, adjust sweetness or ice, and serve immediately (2 large or 3–4 small).

What to Serve It With

– Pancakes, waffles, or a Saturday egg scramble.
– Breakfast sandwiches or a bacon, egg, and cheese situation.
– Pool snacks: pretzels, fruit, crispy potato chips (salty + citrus = yes).
– Afternoon pick-me-up with a granola bar when life is… a lot.

✔Tips & Mistakes

– Use the concentrate straight from the freezer for that thick shake vibe.
– Don’t over-blend or it goes from fluffy to watery fast.
– Start with less sweetener; you can always add, but you can’t un-sugar it.
– If your blender struggles, add liquids first, then ice on top.
– Too tart? A little extra vanilla mellows it in a sneaky good way.

✔Storage Tips

Fridge: It separates after 30–60 minutes—totally normal. Give it a good shake or quick blitz and it’s back. Still tasty cold right from the jar (breakfast in a cup, no judgment).
Freezer: Pour leftovers into popsicle molds or ice cube trays. Blend the cubes later with a splash of milk for an instant slushy redo.

✔Variations and Substitutions

– Dairy-free: Swap milk for almond, oat, or coconut milk.
– Creamsicle style: Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream and reduce the ice.
– Protein boost: Add vanilla protein powder and cut back the sugar slightly.
– Fresh orange version: Use 1 cup fresh orange juice + zest of ½ orange, then add extra ice and a touch more sweetener.
– Low-sugar: Use a sugar substitute you like; start with 1–2 tbsp and adjust.
– Extra citrus: Add a squeeze of lemon for a brighter, tangier finish.

Frequently Asked Questions

Delish Orange Julius Drinks

Cool, creamy, and frothy Orange Julius-style drink made with orange juice concentrate, milk, vanilla, and ice—ready in minutes for a refreshing breakfast or sweet treat.

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Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 120kcal

Ingredients

 

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Main Ingredients

• ▢ 6 ounce frozen orange juice concentrate thawed slightly
• ▢ 1 cup cold water
• ▢ 1 cup whole milk cold
• ▢ 2 tablespoon granulated sugar adjust to taste
• ▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ▢ 1.5 cup ice cubes use more for a thicker drink

Instructions

Preparation Steps

• Add orange juice concentrate, water, milk, sugar, and vanilla to a blender.
• Blend on medium speed until the sugar dissolves and the mixture looks smooth.
• Add the ice and blend on high until frothy and thick, about 30 to 45 seconds.
• Taste and adjust sweetness or ice to your preference, blending again if needed.
• Pour into chilled glasses and serve immediately.

Notes

For a dairy-free version, swap the whole milk with 1.0 cup unsweetened almond milk. Adding a pinch of orange zest boosts the citrus aroma.