Copy-Cat Orange Julius Recipe {Easy}

This Copy-Cat Orange Julius Recipe is just like the creamy orange drink that I remember from my younger days at the mall. It’s such a great summer treat. Come on in and I’ll share the recipe with you…

orange julius recipe

Copy-Cat Orange Julius

If you like making fun drinks, then you might want to try my recipes for…

Ocean Ice Cream Floats

Kool-Aid Slushies

Shamrock Shake Recipe 

copy-cat orange julius drink

orange julius recipe

As a kid, I used to visit Orange Julius in our local mall. It was such a treat to get one of those creamy orange drinks.

That combination of cream with the tartness of orange was irresistible to me. I’m pretty sure that I pestered my mom until she finally gave in.

easy orange julius recipe

Sadly, Orange Julius isn’t a staple at every mall anymore. Dairy Queen bought the franchise and only sells the Orange Julius at select locations. They aren’t sold at my local DQ.  You can usually find them at the old fashioned Dairy Queen Treat stands. Which is exactly what I did in my quest to find one and compare it to this copy-cat version. The nearest Orange Julius friendly DQ to me is about 20 minutes away. Of course I loaded up the family and headed straight to it.

the best orange julius recipe

Tips and Tricks

Here’s what I discovered…The flavor was a lot more tart than I remembered. It really makes you pucker up. This Copy-Cat version has the same effect. It’s made with orange juice concentrate which lends itself well to the tangy flavor found in an Orange Julius.

I love the recipe – as is, but In this copy-cat version, you can customize the flavor of your drink simply by adding more milk for a creamier (less tart) flavor or if you really like the strong citrus flavor then only add 1 cup of milk instead of the recipes recommended 1&1/2 cups.

copy-cat orange julius recipe

FAQs

What does Orange Julius Taste Like?

  • Orange Julius tastes like a mixture of cream and oranges. It tastes a lot like a liquid version of a creamsicle.
orange julius recipe

What is an Orange Julius Copy-Cat Made of?

  • Frozen Orange Juice Concentrate, Water, Milk, Ice, Vanilla, Ice and a form of Sweetener.

How do you make a copycat Orange Julius?

  1. In a blender, add orange juice concentrate, milk, water, honey, ice, and vanilla
  2. Blend until smooth

Tips and Tricks for the Ultimate Copy-Cat Orange Julius…

  • Start off by adding 1/2 cup less milk than the recipe states. Taste the finished product. If it’s too tart, add the last 1/2 cup of milk to make it more creamy
  • If left to sit, the ingredients may start to separate. Simply stir the drink with your straw or a spoon until it’s creamy again
  • Some recipes add powdered sugar to add a sweeter flavor

Here’s a quick VIDEO to show you how I made this Orange Julius Drink…

Here’s the handy dandy recipe printable:

orange julius recipe

Copy Cat Orange Julius Juice

A fun summer drink that tastes like a creamy orange Creamsicle. 
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 228cal
Author: Melissa
Cost: $10

Ingredients

  • 1 12 oz. orange juice concentrate 
  • 1&1/2 cups milk
  • ½ cup water 
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 2 Tbsp. honey
  • 1 cup Ice Cubes

Instructions

  • Add the ingredients to a blender
  • Blend until smooth
  • Serve immediately

Notes

  • If the drink is left to sit, the ingredients may start to separate. Stir to mix together
Recipe Variations…
  • Feel free to play around with the taste by adding more milk for a creamier version or dialing the milk back for a tart flavor. Some recipes have added powdered sugar as well for a sweeter version. 
nutrition facts are only an estimate 

Nutrition

Calories: 228cal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 40mg | Sodium: 132mg | Potassium: 510mg | Fiber: 0.02g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 544IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 416mg | Iron: 0.03mg

~Melissa – KidFriendlyThingsToDo.com

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This Post Has 2 Comments

  1. Karen

    The original recipe had powdered malt in it. I asked someone that worked in the Orange Julius stand at the mall. It does make it taste right.

    1. Melissa

      Thank you so much for the tip! I’m going to have to hunt down some malt! 🙂 yum.