Orange Julius
How would you like to make the Orange Julius we love from our neighborhood Dairy Queen restaurants? This delightful, creamy drink is a frothy smoothie that can be made with a few ingredients. And best of all, it tastes just like the real thing. Yes, this copycat recipe will taste like the original Orange Julius.
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Homemade Orange Julius
Years ago, you could only get this drink from an Orange Julius stand or an Orange Julius store located in your favorite food court or mall. But after Dairy Queen bought the rights to this much-loved chain, DQ is where you need to get one of their delicious fruit smoothies.
We now have the secret ingredients to this orange drink recipe (thanks to Dave Oberg), and you can enjoy it in minutes. There are only a few simple ingredients, making this a refreshing treat you can enjoy anytime.
Why this copycat Orange Julius recipe works
This recipe works very well because it mimics the flavor you have always known. The orange juice concentrate gives you lots of flavors, and it is better to use than orange juice because regular orange juice is watered down.
To make things easy, you can watch a video on how to make this special orange Julius smoothie.
Perfect for summer
Although this is the perfect refreshing drink to make any time, it’s perfect in the heat of summer. It’s a fun, non-alcoholic beverage that your whole family will enjoy.
Ingredients
You only need these simple ingredients to make a homemade Orange Julius:
- Frozen orange Juice concentrate (do not use fresh orange juice)
- Water
- Whole milk
- Vanilla extract
- Powdered Sugar
- Ice
How to make an Orange Julius
Making this orange smoothie is so simple! Here’s what to do:
- Put all of the ingredients in a good blender.
- Blend until smooth.
- Pour into glasses.
- Garnish with fresh orange slices if desired.
Recipe notes
If you already have premixed orange juice, use 1 2/3 cups instead of the concentrate and water.
If your ice cubes are from a tray, you may want to pre-crush them a bit. The ice blends better if it is not in large pieces.
The original orange beverage was made with raw egg whites, but I believe they stopped doing this because many people feel uncomfortable eating raw eggs. However, if you want to add raw eggs, you can get pasteurized eggs, which are safe to consume. My recipe does not contain eggs.
Recipe variations
Add frozen banana, mango, or pineapple to give this smoothie drink a tropical twist.
You can make it vegan and dairy-free by substituting the whole milk with almond milk, oat milk, or your favorite plant-based milk.
Orange Julius History
The very famous Orange Julius drink started as an orange juice stand in southern California in 1926. Orange groves were near Los Angeles, and Julius Freed created this sweet treat. Sales were very modest early on, so a friend came up with the idea of a drink mix that would make the acidic orange juice easier on the stomach.
Freed’s stand took up this new drink, which had a frothy, creamy texture, and sales took off. It became so popular that people began lining up at the store and shouting, “Give me an Orange, Julius!”
This acclaim led to the new drink being named Orange Julius. In 1987, the Orange Julius chain was incorporated into Dairy Queen, where you are most likely to be able to drink an Orange Julius.
Some fun facts
The original stand also provided Bible tracts and medicinal tonics.
It became the official drink of the 1964 New York World’s Fair.
Between 1970 and the early 1980s, it used the image of a devil with a pitchfork inserted through an orange and the apt slogan, “A Devilish Good Drink.” This logo and slogan were later dropped because they were somewhat similar to that of Arizona State University’s mascot, Sparky.
Did the Orange Julius use raw eggs?
When the Orange Julius first came out, the recipe used raw eggs, but the recipe was changed over time, and the raw eggs were replaced with egg white powder.
Is the Orange Julius healthy?
A small Orange Julius may not be the healthiest option. If you buy one in a restaurant, a small one has about 300 calories and about 75 grams of sugar, which is equivalent to a soda. There is about a gram of fiber in a serving, but these are low in salt with only about 57 grams. These may not be the healthiest option, but they are a great treat to enjoy once in a while.
You can enjoy this orange creamsicle flavor whenever you have a craving. So don’t miss out on this fun drink, it is like a milkshake made with orange juice.
Favorite copycat drink recipes
Love oranges? Try these recipes
Be sure to take a look at these restaurant drink recipes and copycat desserts.
Did you make and love this recipe? Give your review below and make sure you share your creations by tagging me on Instagram!
Homemade Orange Julius
You now have the secret Orange Julius recipe and can make this delicious smoothie at home.
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Servings: 4
Calories: 143kcal
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup frozen orange juice concentrate
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 1/2 cups ice
Video
Notes
If your ice cubes are from a tray, you may want to pre-crush them a bit for better blending.
Nutrition
Calories: 143kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 32mg | Potassium: 399mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin A: 280IU | Vitamin C: 65.3mg | Calcium: 84mg | Iron: 0.2mg