This copycat Orange Julius is frothy, creamy, and easy to make at home with orange juice, milk, and vanilla. A nostalgic treat you’ll crave all summer!

Orange Julius in a glass cup with oranges.

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Homemade Orange Julius Recipe

Skip the mall stand, this homemade Orange Julius tastes just like the original! It’s lighter than a milkshake, sweeter than a smoothie, and ready in minutes. Try it as a refreshing summer drink or pair it with orange muffins for breakfast.

Orange Julius Ingredients

Orange Julius ingredients on the counter.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

How to Make Orange Julius

Orange juice concentrate, milk, vanilla, and sugar in a blender.

Blend everything until smooth, then add ice and blend again until frothy and slushy. Serve immediately.

Recipe Tips

  • If you plan to double, only blend a batch at a time to ensure everything blends evenly.
  • For the best texture, serve immediately while it’s still cold and frothy. Since there is no raw eggs or powders needed, the frozen juice and ice create the classic texture.
  • Garnish with a slice of orange or any extra fruit you blend in! It adds a fresh look and makes each glass feel a little more special.
  • Have fun with any leftovers! Pour them into popsicle molds for tasty poolside treats. You can also freeze the mixture in ice cube trays and re-blend later.

Variations

By making a few substitutions you can make a few different versions of an Orange Julius!

  • You can swap the orange juice for pineapple juice or add in some frozen strawberries and bananas.
  • Use plant-based milk to keep it vegan. Almond milk and coconut milk are great options.
  • Add some greek yogurt to make it a little thicker and add some protein.
Orange Julius in a glass cup with orange slices.

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Orange Julius in a cup with orange slices.

Orange Julius Recipe

5 from 12 votes
Recipe by: Jamielyn Nye
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 2
This copycat Orange Julius is frothy, creamy, and easy to make at home with orange juice, milk, and vanilla. A nostalgic treat you’ll crave all summer!
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Video

Equipment

Ingredients 

  • 1 (8-ounce) can frozen orange juice concentrate
  • 1 ½ cups milk
  • 1 cup water
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1-2 cups ice , more as needed

Instructions

  • In the base of a blender, add the juice concentrate, milk, water, sugar, and vanilla.
  • Blend on high speed until smooth and the sugar is dissolved.
  • Add ice and blend again until the mixture is slushy and the ice is finely crushed. Add more ice if you'd like it thicker.
  • Pour the Orange Julius into 2 glasses. Add a orange slice on the side if desired and serve immediately.

Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.

Notes

Quantity: Though this recipe is easy to double, I would still only make one batch in the blender at a time to make sure everything blends properly.
Variations:
  • Juice. Swap orange juice for pineapple juice.
  • Fruit. Add in frozen strawberries or bananas. 
  • Vegan. Use your favorite plant-based milk in place of the milk.
  • Water. Try coconut water for a more tropical flavor.
Storage: You can freeze the leftovers in ice cube trays to make smoothies later or in a popsicle mold to make popsicles. 

Nutrition

Calories: 343kcal, Carbohydrates: 71g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 15mg, Sodium: 67mg, Potassium: 900mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 65g, Vitamin A: 627IU, Vitamin C: 164mg, Calcium: 201mg, Iron: 0.4mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.