Homemade Orange Julius Copycat Recipe

This classic Orange Julius copycat recipe is frothy, creamy, and tastes just like the one from the mall! This easy smoothie is made with five ingredients and ready in less than 5 minutes! So the next time you're craving an Orange Julius, make one at home for a fraction of the cost. I think it tastes even better than the original!

I have been making this original Orange Julius recipe for over 40 years. It tastes so fresh and has no artificial flavors. And it goes perfectly with these homemade orange bars.

What is an Orange Julius?

An Orange Julius is a frothy, refreshing drink that combines the flavors of sweet orange with milk, vanilla, and ice, creating a smoothie-like drink that's both creamy and citrusy. If you've ever had an orange creamsicle, this drink will taste familiar - that same orange-and-cream combination, just blended into a smoothie instead of frozen on a stick.

Originating from the Orange Julius stand first introduced in Los Angeles in the 1920s, the Orange Julius drink quickly became popular across the United States, especially in malls and food courts.

The original is made with ice, orange juice, sweetener, milk, powdered egg whites, and vanilla flavoring. You can find Julius originals at Dairy Queen.

Ingredients You'll Need

Only a handful of ingredients are required to make this delicious recipe, and you probably already have them in your kitchen.

• Frozen orange juice concentrate. I used Minute Maid 100% original, which is made with natural oranges and no added preservatives.
• Milk. I used 1% milk, but you can also use skim milk, almond milk, or coconut milk. Whole milk gets you closest to the original's richer, creamier texture if that's what you're after.
• Sugar. I used granulated sugar, but you can also use powdered sugar, cane sugar, or your favorite sweetener.
• Vanilla extract. I used pure vanilla extract.
• Orange. Optional, but it's nice to garnish the drink with a slice of orange.

See the printable recipe card below for quantities and a full list of ingredients.

How to Make Copycat Orange Julius

Step 1: Add frozen orange juice concentrate, milk, water, sugar, vanilla extract, and two cups of ice to a blender and blend until smooth and creamy.

What to serve with an Orange Julius?

I love to serve these for breakfast or brunch for a special treat. They go perfect with Rhubarb Cream Cheese Muffins, Lemon Berry Dutch Baby Pancakes, Buttermilk Belgian Waffles, Sheet Pan Pancakes, and my Oven-Baked Western Omelet Casserole.

Nutrition Notes

This recipe makes a naturally lighter alternative to the original mall version, since it skips the added stabilizers. Exact calories and carbs will vary depending on which milk and sweetener you use - whole milk and full sugar will run higher than the skim/reduced-sugar version.