Orange Julius

An Orange Julius is a one-of-a-kind refreshment that’s citrusy, creamy, foamy, and simply divine.

It’ll only take one sip to fall in love.

Is it an orange smoothie, a milkshake, or a juice? Who knows? All I know is that I can’t get enough, and I’m sure you won’t be able to, either.

If you’re looking for a unique thirst quencher to cool you down on a hot day, you’ve come to the right place.

Let’s get juicing!

Orange Julius

Born in the 1920s, the Orange Julius has stood the test of time. There’s only one reason why it’s lasted this long – it’s delicious.

This copycat Orange Julius tastes as good as the original, which means it’ll remind you of your teenage years!

Not only will it help you beat the summer heat, but will also take you down memory lane. 

What Is an Orange Julius? 

Orange Julius has been around for almost a century, so even if you’ve never tried it, chances are, you’ve heard of it. 

This refreshment is a frothy blend of orange juice concentrate, milk, sweetener, vanilla, and crushed ice.

Oh, and it contains raw eggs, as well, to give it its signature frothiness.

Think of it as an orange creamsicle, but in milkshake or smoothie form.

Orange Julius is also the name of the chain that invented the popular drink.

What Does an Orange Julius Have in It? 

• Ice Cubes – This is a summer refreshment, after all. If you’re worried about ice cubes watering down your Orange Julius, you can freeze the orange juice concentrate and banana so you won’t need to add too much. 
• Orange Juice Concentrate – While I always say fresh is best, for this recipe, concentrate is better. It has a more, well, concentrated flavor, and it’s thick, unlike fresh orange juice.
• Milk – You can use 1%, 2%, or skim milk, but for best results, go for full-fat milk. 
• Whipping Cream – It makes the OJ extra rich and creamy.
• 1 Banana – For sweetness, thickness, and flavor. 
• Sugar – I used granulated sugar because it’s more widely available, but if you have powdered sugar on hand, better. Powdered sugar dissolves much more easily than granulated. Sweetened condensed milk works, too.
• Egg – The key to frothy and foamy Orange Julius. The recipe calls for a raw egg, so for food safety, make sure it’s pasteurized.
• Powdered Dairy Creamer – It adds an extra touch of creaminess.
• Vanilla Extract – To enhance the flavor of the other ingredients.

How To Make Orange Julius

The first step is to crush ice cubes, so you have to have a good-quality blender.

Then, throw in the orange juice concentrate, milk, whipping cream (optional but highly recommended), banana (use frozen if you can), pasteurized egg, powdered dairy creamer, and vanilla extract.

Blend until thick and frothy. That’s it! 

Pour your OJ into glasses and serve with a cute umbrella straw. Enjoy.

Tips for the Best Drink 

• While I prefer using orange juice concentrate for this recipe, you can also use fresh orange juice. Keep in mind that orange juice is thinner than concentrate, so you’ll have to take out the milk from the recipe.
• Or, just pour the orange juice into an ice cube tray and freeze. That way, you won’t need to add as many ice cubes, which means your Orange Julius won’t get watered down after a while. You can do the same technique with orange juice concentrate.
• As long as you’re using pasteurized eggs, you won’t need to worry about salmonella.
• Use Grade-A or AA eggs with clean shells. They should be refrigerated to avoid contamination.
• Freeze the banana so it can double as ice cubes. 
• Freeze the glasses for 15 to 20 minutes so your OJ stays cold longer.
• To adjust the consistency, add less or more milk. 
• Reduce or add more sugar to adjust sweetness. For a smoother OJ, use powdered sugar instead of granulated.
• For a richer, creamier OJ, use full-fat milk. 

I often get asked, “Can you freeze oranges?” The answer is yes! But what about this Orange Juilius?

Luckily, you can! Pour leftovers into a popsicle mold and make your own orange creamsicles!

Flavor Variations

• Strawberry or Pineapple – Use 8 ounces of frozen strawberries or pineapple chunks instead of orange juice concentrate.
• Berry – Add 1 1/2 cups of frozen mixed berries to the mix.
• Mango – Add a cup of frozen mango.
• Coconut: Use coconut milk instead of milk for a tropical twist.
• Lemonade: Use concentrated lemonade instead of orange juice.
• Vegan: Use non-dairy milk such as almond or pistachio milk.
• Yogurt: Instead of cream, use Greek yogurt or your yogurt flavor.

Did the Original Orange Julius Have an Egg In It? 

While the new recipe now uses egg white powder to make it frothy, the original recipe used actual raw eggs.

This is why I decided to also use one in mine. Nothing beats the real deal.

History of Orange Julius

Orange Julius was invented by Julius Freed in 1926. 

Freed ran an orange juice stand in Los Angeles, California. Apart from orange juice, his store also offered medicinal tonics and biblical tracts.

In the beginning, the business didn’t make much. When his real estate broker gave him the idea to create a drink that wasn’t so acidic, the drink was born.

Thick, creamy, and frothy, the newly concocted beverage immediately became a hit.

So much so that crowds would line up in front of his store and shout “give me an Orange, Julius!” That’s how the name came to be.

In 1987, the Orange Julius chain was acquired by Dairy Queen, where you can get your fill. 

Fun Facts About Orange Julius

• Orange Julius became the official beverage of the 1964 New York World’s Fair.
• From 1970 to 1980, the OJ had a logo of a devil with a pitchfork poking into an orange, and had the slogan, “A Devilish Good Drink.” The chain had to change it because the logo looked like Sparky, the Arizona State University mascot.
• It’s not healthy. One small serving has a whopping 210 calories and 50 grams of sugar.

Looking for other summer refreshments?

Here are more thirst-quenchers you definitely should try:

• Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino
• Chick-Fil-A Lemonade
• Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
• Vanilla Milkshake – no ice cream needed!