Homemade Orange Julius Copycat Recipe

Name: Homemade Orange Julius Copycat Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 12 ounces frozen orange juice concentrate (one can); 2 cups milk; 1 cup water; ⅔ cup granulated sugar; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 2-3 cups ice cubes

This delicious homemade 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 are craving an Orange Julius, make one at home for a fraction of the cost. I think it tastes even better than the original!

Two glasses of orange julius with an orange striped straw.

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I have been making this original Orange Julius recipe for over 40 years. It tastes so fresh and vibrant and has no artificial flavors.

🥤 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.

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 even find Julius originals at Dairy Queen.

🍊 Copycat Orange Julius Recipe With Orange Juice

Easy to make at home.
No artificial flavors or colors.
Refreshing treat that is ready in less than five minutes.
Contains no raw eggs.
Cheaper and healthier than buying one at the mall or Dairy Queen.

📋 Recipe Ingredients

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

Ingredients needed to make homemade Orange Julius at home.

🍊 Ingredient Notes

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.
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 By Step Instructions

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.

The orange juice concentrate, milk, water, and vanilla extract blended until smooth in a blender.

Step 2: Add more ice cubes to make it thicker and blend again.

The orange smoothie blended with ice cubes to make it thicker and frothier in a blender.

Step 3: Pour the Orange Julius into glasses, garnish with an orange slice, and serve!

The thick and frothy orange smoothie being poured into a serving glass.

🍓 Variations

Add frozen strawberries to make a Strawberry Orange Julius.
Add a scoop of vanilla protein powder to make a protein-packed smoothie.
Blend in some frozen pineapple or mango chunks for a tropical flavor.
Make it dairy-free by using almond, coconut, or soy milk.

💭 Expert Tips

Use a good quality orange juice concentrate for the best flavor, and make sure it is frozen for the thickest smoothie.
Start with 2 cups of ice and add more for a thicker texture.
Start your blender on low to break up the ice and increase to the highest setting.

Two glasses of Orange Julius garnished with orange slices and orange and white striped straws.

🥐 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.

Two glasses of creamy orange smoothie on a wooden tray, garnished with orange wedges.

📖 Recipe FAQs

What is the best frozen orange juice?

One of the top-rated frozen concentrate orange juice is Minute Maid or Florida Gold, made with real ingredients and no preservatives.

Does Orange Julius keep in the fridge?

Orange Julius is best when consumed as soon as it is made. However, you can keep it in the fridge for about a day in a container with a lid. Shake or reblend before serving.

Can I make it with fresh orange juice?

Yes, you can make it with fresh orange juice, just omit the water.

The creamy orange drink in two serving glasses, garnished with fresh oranges.

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