4-Ingredient Orange Julius Recipe (5-Minute)
- By Amy Dong
- Updated Dec. 28, 2023
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.
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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.
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 Juice Concentrate, from frozen
- Whole Milk; low fat milk can work, too, though it will be less creamy
- Powdered sugar
- Vanilla extract
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.
Looking for more frozen beverages for the summer? I think you will love this homemade oreo blizzard!
Commonly Asked Questions
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.
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.
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.
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?
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4-Ingredient Orange Julius Recipe (5-Minute)
Ingredients
- 12 oz 100% orange juice concentrate, frozen can
- 2 cups whole milk, or low fat
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup ice cubes
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
Nutrition (per serving)
Smoothies and More:
