Copycat Orange Julius (Creamy Orange Blender Drink)

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• That mall-stand nostalgia: foamy, creamy, sweet-tart, and ultra-refreshing.
• Five pantry-friendly ingredients you likely have on hand.
• Ready in 5 minutes with zero cooking—just a blender.
• Easy to customize: lighter, creamier, protein-packed, or dairy-free.

Grocery List

• Produce: Oranges for garnish (optional)
• Dairy: Whole milk (or 2%)
• Pantry: Orange juice (not-from-concentrate) or frozen orange juice concentrate, granulated sugar, pure vanilla extract, kosher salt, nonfat dry milk (optional), aquafaba or pasteurized egg whites (optional)

Full Ingredients

Drink Base

• 1 1/2 cups (355 ml) chilled orange juice
• 1/2 cup (120 ml) cold whole milk (2% works too)
• 3 tablespoons (38 g) granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups ice (8–10 standard cubes)
• Pinch kosher salt (optional)

Optional Froth Boosters (choose one for extra creaminess)

• 1 tablespoon nonfat dry milk, or
• 1 pasteurized egg white (about 30 g), or
• 1 tablespoon aquafaba (liquid from canned chickpeas)

For Serving

• Orange slice or twist (optional)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Chill glasses and ingredients

Place two tall glasses in the freezer for 10 minutes. Keep the orange juice and milk well-chilled (ideally 38–40°F / 3–4°C). Cold ingredients whip into a thicker, longer-lasting foam.

Step 2: Start with the liquids

Add the orange juice, milk, sugar, vanilla, and a tiny pinch of kosher salt to your blender. Blend on low for about 10 seconds to fully dissolve the sugar. This prevents any graininess later.

Step 3: Add ice and optional froth booster

Add the ice cubes. For a creamier, more stable head of foam, add one froth booster: nonfat dry milk, a pasteurized egg white, or aquafaba. Each helps create that signature Orange Julius cloud.

Step 4: Blend to creamy, foamy perfection

Start on low, then increase to high and blend for 30–45 seconds. Look for a strong vortex and a thick cap of tiny bubbles. The mixture should look pale and creamy with no visible ice shards.

Step 5: Fine-tune thickness and sweetness

Taste. For sweeter, add 1 teaspoon sugar; for thicker/colder, add 1–2 ice cubes. Pulse 3–5 seconds to incorporate without deflating the foam. If it tastes sharp, one extra pinch of salt brightens it right up.

Step 6: Pour and serve immediately

Retrieve the chilled glasses and pour the drink, letting the foam mound slightly over the rim. Garnish with an orange slice or twist if you like. Serve right away while frosty and bubbly.

Pro Tips

• For the most classic flavor, use fresh, not-from-concentrate orange juice; for extra body, swap half the OJ with thawed frozen orange juice concentrate.
• Dry milk powder or aquafaba creates a stable, creamy foam without making the drink heavy.
• Blend liquids first to dissolve sugar, or use superfine sugar or simple syrup to avoid any grit.
• Keep everything cold: ingredients at 38–40°F and glasses pre-chilled. Foam lasts longer and the drink stays slushy, not watery.
• Crushed ice blends faster and reduces heat from the blender, preserving froth.

Variations

• Creamsicle Julius: Replace milk with half-and-half, add 1 teaspoon orange zest, and reduce sugar to 2 tablespoons.
• Strawberry-Orange: Add 1/2 cup hulled strawberries and reduce orange juice to 1 1/4 cups; blend as directed.
• Protein Boost: Add 1/2 cup vanilla Greek yogurt or 1 scoop vanilla protein powder; reduce sugar to 2 tablespoons.

Storage & Make-Ahead

This drink is best fresh. If needed, blend the liquid base (orange juice, milk, sugar, vanilla, and optional dry milk) up to 24 hours ahead and refrigerate at or below 40°F (4°C). When ready, add ice and blend to serve. Leftover blended drink won’t hold foam well, but you can freeze it in popsicle molds or ice cube trays for up to 1 month; reblend frozen cubes with a splash of fresh orange juice or milk for a quick slushy.

Nutrition (per serving)

Approximate for 1 of 2 servings: 195 calories; 2 g fat (1 g saturated); 42 g carbohydrates; 38 g sugars; 3.5 g protein; 55 mg sodium; 0 g fiber. Values will vary with exact ingredients and optional boosters.