This Orange Julius smoothie is flavorful, creamy, and has the ideal balance of sweet and tangy. Enjoy this beverage as a light dessert, an afternoon snack, breakfast, or a brunch option. With only a few ingredients, it can be made in a matter of minutes!
What is Orange Julius?
Do you still think about Orange Julius? For many people, it brings back many memories of the 1980s. Anyway, I assume there are still Orange Julius stands in certain places.
The ones nearby all shut down years ago.
But the Orange Julius, which was their most well-known beverage, made them famous. It’s a refreshing beverage with a hint of vanilla and is orange-licious.
An Orange Julius is probably something that most people connect with during their adolescent years and hang out at the neighborhood mall, where there is often at least one (if not two) juice vendor serving this beverage. fun times
It was first developed in Los Angeles, where Southern California is widely renowned for its orange orchards, in the 1920s (Orange County.)
A blended frozen drink called an Orange Julius features sweetened orange concentrate as its main ingredient. It tastes like a creamsicle and is a cross between a drink, milkshake, and smoothie. However, if you can’t locate one in the mall, you’re lucky because you can quickly and easily brew this drink at home.
Ingredients
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1 can (12 oz) frozen orange juice concentrate, slightly thawed
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1½ cups milk
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½ cup water
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6 Tbsp sugar
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1 tsp vanilla extract
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10–12 ice cubes (adjust to your preferred texture)
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Orange slices, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
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Add the orange juice concentrate, milk, water, sugar, and vanilla to your blender.
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Add the ice cubes last—start with 10 and add more if you want it thicker and frostier.
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Blend on high until smooth and frothy, about 1–2 minutes. If you like it thicker (like a frozen treat), just add a few more ice cubes and blend again.
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Pour into glasses. Garnish with an orange slice if you’d like, and enjoy immediately!
Tips:
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For a creamier texture, swap some or all of the milk for half-and-half or a splash of heavy cream.
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If you love a super-smooth texture, blend a little longer, or use crushed ice.
If you like this recipe, be sure to check these also:
Authentic Arby’s Jamocha Shake Copycat Recipe
How to make Orange Crush Cocktail Recipe
Love this Orange Julius? Save the image below to your Pinterest board so you can blend up this frosty treat anytime you crave it!
Orange Julius Texture
It’s a matter of taste, but I prefer my Orange Julius to have the consistency of a dense smoothie. Still drinkable through a straw but thick enough to freeze the brain of your head if you attempt to gulp too much at once. 🙂
If you think about it, Orange Julius’s icy-cold consistency controls how quickly you consume it. Slowly drinking some Orange Julius is like taking a lovely stroll down the coast if you’re in the mood for some laid-back summer sensations. However, if you try to shotgun it, you’ll feel like, well, you’ll feel like your brain froze for a minute. 🙂
Flavor Variations for Orange Julius?
You can also play with flavors by introducing any flavor you like, as long as it doesn’t change the original taste too much! So, for example, concentrated lemonade works with this! A fantastic method to change tastes. Besides, it comes together quickly, making it ideal for a fast summer sweet treat.
This will be to your liking if you enjoy the creamsicle flavor. It did for me; I hope it reminds you of some fond memories.
Can Orange Julius be made ahead?
Although it’s best when cooked right away, I’ve made it numerous times and frozen the cups of food after pouring it into them for approximately 15 minutes before serving. Though it would take too long for the orange Julius to thaw up enough to drink, I wouldn’t freeze it all at once.