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4-Ingredient Orange Julius Recipe (5-Minute)

This 4-Ingredient Orange Julius Recipe takes only a few minutes. It’s frothy, cool, and supremely delicious. Tastes just like the mall version, but way cheaper and healthier. 

Orange Julius Recipe
Orange Julius smoothies are easy to make at home.

4-Ingredient Orange Julius

In our culture of smoothies galore, anything goes. Smoothie add-ins range from whey protein to wheatgrass to collagen.

I’m not betting on wrinkles miraculously disappearing by gulping smoothies. {Anything’s possible?} That said, this Chia Seed Pudding and this Tropical Green Smoothies are on-trend, healthy, and taste pretty awesome.

But sometimes, we all just long for sweet and simple. Nothing fancy, but everything delicious. Something classic, yet definitely improved. We’re talking this 4-ingredient homemade Orange Julius smoothie that brings you back to childhood summers at the mall.

We’ve got nostalgic memories of begging Mom for that frothy Orange Julius we saw everyone else buying at the mall. This 4-Ingredient Orange Julius recipe is healthier, budget-friendly, and every bit as delicious. It’s frothy, cool, and scrumptious. It’s just like what you get at the mall, without actually going to the mall. In fact, you don’t have to go anywhere. And it takes only a few teensy minutes to whip up.

orange smoothies in glasses
Just 4 ingredients for homemade Orange Julius

Just 4 Ingredients and a Blender

You’ll be amazed at how easy and fast this classic smoothie is to whip up at home. You’ll need just 4 basic ingredients and a good heavy duty countertop blender. You’ll probably want to keep your blender on the counter all summer long, for homemade Orange Julius smoothies on the regular. We keep our trusty blender within easy reach for Strawberry Julius smoothies, too.

This frosty orange smoothie is so easy, the kids can help gather the ingredients and watch, you blend up this family treat. Pro mom tip: be sure to divvy up everyone’s share evenly, right in front of the kids’ watchful eyes, because they’ll absolutely be monitoring the situation. Here’s what you’ll need:

orange slices for Orange Julius

How to Make

  • It may be somewhat unexpected, but you’ll be using a can of 100% frozen orange juice from concentrate in this recipe. Rather than juicing fresh oranges or using liquid juice, frozen orange juice is perfect because it’s already freezer-cold and boasts an intense orange flavor. We keep several cans of 100% orange juice in the freezer at all times now.
  • Our recipe uses low-fat milk, but whole milk will work wonderfully for a slightly richer texture. Powdered sugar and real vanilla extract round out the recipe.
  • There are no unknowns and no questionable ingredients. It’s all pure and simple.
  • Somehow, these 4 little ingredients plus plenty of ice, will blend up all fizzy and bubbly. Your drink will stay nice and frothy for awhile, so you can sit back and sip slowly, and savor every drop of this refreshing classic – it’s kinda hard to sip slowly, but it sounds good in theory.
Orange Julius in cup with straw
In just 5 minutes, you’ll have frothy, refreshing Orange Julius anytime.

Looking for more frozen beverages for the summer? I think you will love this homemade oreo blizzard!

Commonly Asked Questions

What is Orange Julius?

Orange Julius is a refreshing and creamy beverage made with orange juice, milk or cream, sugar, vanilla extract, and ice. It is similar to a creamy orange smoothie and is wonderfully easy to make at home.

Can I substitute the milk or cream in a homemade Orange Julius?

Yes, you can substitute the milk or cream in a homemade Orange Julius with alternatives such as almond milk, soy milk, or oat milk, or coconut milk. Keep in mind that using different types of milk may slightly alter the taste and texture of the finished smoothie. If you’re simply avoiding lactose, lactose-free milk is a great choice.

Can I reduce the amount of sugar in a homemade Orange Julius?

Yes, you can reduce the amount of sugar in a homemade Orange Julius if you prefer a less sweet drink. Start by using two-thirds of the original amount, and adjust according to your taste. You can also experiment with using natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup as alternatives.

Can I add other fruits to a homemade Orange Julius?

Yes, you can add other fruits to a homemade Orange Julius to create different flavors. Some popular additions include strawberries, pineapple, mango, or banana. Simply blend the additional fruits along with the other ingredients to create a delicious fruit variation of the Orange Julius. Here’s our recipe for Strawberry Julius!

Try this Easy Thai Iced Coffee, too

Did you make this?

Please give us a rating and comment below. We love hearing from you!

Orange Julius Recipe

4-Ingredient Orange Julius Recipe (5-Minute)

5 from 61 ratings
This 4-Ingredient Orange Julius Recipe takes just a few minutes. It’s frothy, cool, and supremely delicious! Tastes just like the mall version, but way healthier and cheaper.
Prep Time: 4 minutes
Total Time: 4 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Amy Dong

Ingredients  

Instructions

  • Blend: In a heavy duty blender, add all ingredients except ice cubes. Blend for a few seconds until mixture is smooth. Add ice cubes and blend just until frothy (doesn't take long.)
  • Serve: Serve immediately, with additional ice cubes if desired.

Notes

If you enjoyed this recipe, please come back and give it a rating ❤️

Nutrition (per serving)

Serving: 1g | Calories: 179kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 49mg | Potassium: 186mg | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 198IU | Calcium: 152mg | Iron: 0.003mg
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegetarian
Method: blender

Smoothies and More:

  1. Tropcial Green Smoothie
Tropical Green Smoothie in a mason jar

2. Tropical Mango Smoothie

tropical mango smoothie
  1. Avocado Coconut Smoothie
avocado coconut smoothie
  1. 4-Ingredient Strawberry Julius
strawberry julius

Add a comment

Recipe Rating




53 comments

    • Sarah
    • 5 stars

    The Orange Julius is beautiful in a ninja ice crush blender. Well done! Powdered sugar dissolved completely and the drink has a smooth icy cold texture. Thank you for a great recipe.

      • Amy Dong

      So happy you enjoyed this, Sarah!

    • Michelle

    You lost me at “cheaper and healthier”.
    If I’m making one I want one that is as close to the reald deal as I can get.

    • Andrea
    • 5 stars

    This is my ultimate favorite recipe! So glad I found it again. My family is gonna be stuck drinking this with every dinner for the next week!! (Not that they’ll complain.)

      • chewoutloud

      Yay, so happy your family is enjoying this, Andrea! 🙂

    • Alex

    Sip slowly? Haha. I’ll just use a big spoon. I would inhale this! So perfect for the weather we’ve been having.

    • Erin

    I haven’t had an orange julius since I was maybe 5 years ago! I remember it from a place at the mall. I need to give yours a go!

    • GUNJAN C Dudani
    • 5 stars

    Aha! so refreshing and hydrating for this sunny weather. I love this juice and infact my whole family enjoys it. Thanks for sharing.

    • Sophie
    • 5 stars

    Wow, they look so refreshing and delicious. Thanks a lot for this recipe. I am making this today.

    • Jamie
    • 5 stars

    I remember having this all the time as a kid and it brings back such happy memories! I’m definitely going to make this over the weekend. It looks incredible!

    • Ramona
    • 5 stars

    All of these look super refreshing and very healthy, which I am all for! I cant wait to make the strawberry Julius and the mango smoothie for my kids as I know they will love them. Thank you for sharing these recipes!

    • Liz Cleland
    • 5 stars

    I have not had a Orange Julius since walking the malls when I was younger whilst shopping! I just love the taste of these, can’t wait to try this recipe out, thanks!

    • veenaazmanov

    I love Citrus fruits and oranges are my favorite too. Perfect Summer drink option for an amazing breakfast treat too.

    • Candice
    • 5 stars

    This drink is amazing! We will be making it all summer long. Love that is uses simple ingredients… ones that I can always keep on hand. Thank you for the great recipe!

      • chewoutloud

      So glad you all liked this!

    • Kathryn Donangelo
    • 5 stars

    I love a good old fashioned orange Julius and I’m so glad I found this recipe- DELICIOUS!

    • Jackline A

    Ohh this sounds refreshing. I need to try this. Thank you.

    • Karen Monica
    • 5 stars

    I love anything that has orange in it especially if the recipe has a minimum number of ingredients like this Orange Julius.

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