The Easiest Orange Julius Recipe (Tastes Like the Original)
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I’ve been a fan of Orange Julius drinks since the first time I tasted one at the mall. Now I make it at home (and save a lot of money!). Try my Orange Julius recipe and I think you will agree – it tastes just like the real deal!

Orange Julius
Orange Julius is an iconic drink, often associated with the mall food court. I know that’s where I drank my very first frothy orange delight!
Orange Julius has won over hearts and taste buds for decades, but with malls closing left and right, it’s not as easy to find as it used to be.
That’s okay though – once you learn how to make your own homemade Orange Julius at home, you’ll never want to buy it again.
Not sure what an Orange Julius is? Maybe that’s before your time (am I aging myself here?). When I was a kid everyone knew what these drinks were!
What is an Orange Julius?
An Orange Julius is a creamy orange drink that is both refreshing and amazing. It’s a bit like an orange creamsicle.
The original recipe was concocted by Julius Freed in the 1920s and quickly became a popular drink across America. It’s known for its frothy texture and delightful orange flavor, making it a staple in many mall food courts and local Dairy Queen stores.
Why You’ll Love This Orange Julius Recipe
You’ll love making my Orange Julius recipe not only because it’s simple to make, but it will also save you time and money!
This homemade version of the classic Orange Julius is made with just a handful of ingredients and a high-speed blender. It’s a perfect drink for a hot afternoon or as an easy breakfast option.
Just think – you won’t have to load the kids up and go to the mall to get one. You’ll also avoid speding extra money while you’re there.
I enjoy a good Orange Julius as much as I love Morning Meditation Juice!
With this easy Orange Julius recipe, you’ll get the real thing at a fraction of the cost – all from the comfort of your own kitchen!
Orange Julius Recipe
My homemade Orange Julius recipe captures the essence of the original Orange Julius, complete with its signature creamy texture and vibrant orange flavor.
The secret ingredient? A can of orange juice concentrate! Here are the basic ingredients you’ll need:
Ingredients + Substitutions
- Orange juice concentrate: Find this in the freezer section.
- Milk: I prefer to use whole milk over skim milk because I like a creamy drink.
- Vanilla extract: I recommend using real vanilla extract instead of artificial flavoring
- Sugar: You can adjust this to taste or use your preferred sweetener.
- Ice cubes: If you don’t have an ice cube tray, a cup of water can be frozen and then crushed.
Note: The classic Orange Julius recipe calls for egg whites or powdered egg whites to give it that signature frothy consistency.
However, I’ve found this isn’t really necessary and, to be honest, I’m not too keen on adding raw eggs into a drink I’m serving to my kids.
Can You Make It With Orange Juice Instead of Concentrate?
Using a can of concentrated orange juice brings the bold familiar orange taste of the classic drink. If you use orange juice in place of it, it won’t taste as good.
How to Make Orange Julius
Are you ready to make some homemade Orange Julius? Making this delicious Orange Julius is as easy as pie.
Simply blend all the ingredients together in your blender – we recommend using a high speed blender like a Ninja Blender for the best results.
The more you blend, the frothier your drink will be – so blend away for a frothy Orange Julius.
Once blended to a creamy perfection, garnish your glass with an orange slice to make it pretty. Serve and enjoy!
Recipe Variations
Here are some fun ways you can change up the flavors of this copycat Orange Julius Recipe:
- Orange Julius Dessert: For a fun twist, add some vanilla ice cream for an Orange Julius smoothie that’s more like a dessert.
- Tropical Orange Julius: Add a tropical twist to your classic recipe by including 1 cup of pineapple chunks or mango slices to the blender along with the usual ingredients.
- Strawberry Orange Julius: For a fruity variation, add in a handful of fresh strawberries to the basic orange julius recipe. The strawberries lend a beautiful pink hue and a sweet-tart flavor to the drink.
- Protein-Packed Orange Julius: If you’re looking for a post-workout refreshment, consider adding a scoop of your favorite protein powder to the mix.
- Dairy-Free Orange Julius: Swap out the regular milk for almond milk, coconut milk, or another plant-based milk for a dairy-free version.








I’ve been eyeballing this recipe for a while, it looks so delicious. It was fun coming together and cooking from Connor’s Cooking. I hope that you’ll check out the Nutella Crêpes which I made from her blog.
Lisa~~
Cook Lisa Cook
This looks so refreshing. I had a hard time selecting a recipe. It was fun.
The temps are in the 90’s, Homemade OJ looks so refreshing. What a fun day. SRC has some great bloggers.
WOW! MY MOM ALWAYS MADE THIS GROWING UP! LOOKS SOOOO GOOD! WAS FUN THAT WE ALL POSTED TODAY FOR SRC!
I had this picked out, too! I can’t wait to try it. These were always a treat when we went to our mall as kids.
This looks so refreshing! Love Orange Julius’!! Heading over the the “orphaned” blog! 🙂
Thanks for taking the time to make a recipe from my blog! Glad you enjoyed them as much as I did!!
Raina
what size can of orange juice?