Copycat Orange Julius
If you are looking for the perfect Copycat Orange Julius recipe, look no further because you have found it! This creamy orange frozen concoction is made in the blender and ready in minutes. You are going to love this frozen treat!
We are at that weird time of the year where spring is trying it’s hardest to emerge but winter still has it’s icy grip. When the boys go outside to play, they still wear all their winter gear because we have a decent amount of snow in our front yard. But, when they come inside, they are absolutely soaking wet. I have been washing their winter stuff pretty much every single night – a mother’s dream come true!
I’ll tell you what though, I will take an extra load of laundry every night if that means warmer temperatures. We are all so ready to break out of the house and spend all day long outside. The other day, I was playing with Will and his “bad guys” (aka superheroes) when he just let out an “ughhh”.
When I asked him what was wrong, his response was “I’m just so sick of this stinky, old house and being around the same people every single day!!” As you can imagine, I immediately started laughing hysterically (which did not help matters), but how can you not laugh when your 4 year old says that out of the blue?!
Not only is super funny but it’s so true! While I wouldn’t exactly describe our house as “old and stinky,” I wholeheartedly understand his sentiment! When I explained that I agreed with him, that helped to dispel the anger he had from my initial reaction.
This year, spring just means so much more. The promise of a fresh start, of getting outside more, of seeing more people, of getting out for our stinky old house. So, come on, spring. Bring it on. Please!
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Have you ever had an Orange Julius? If not, we need to change that. If you have, you are familiar with the creamy orange frozen drink that is the perfect treat. Growing up, there was an Orange Julius stand in the middle of our mall. When we would go to the mall, we would beg my Mom to buy us the special treat. I vividly remember leaning on the counter watching their commercial blenders spin round and round while I waited for that first sip!
Copycat Orange Julius Ingredients
- frozen orange juice concentrate
- skim milk
- vanilla ice cream
- white sugar
- vanilla extract
- ice cubes
I was talking to Matt the other day about how much I used to love getting that special treat when it occurred to me that Jack and Will had never tasted an Orange Julius! Naturally, I needed to change that. I still remember the flavors so strongly that I was able to re-create them in this recipe. It may have taken about 8 different iterations, but Jack and Will were happy to be my taste testers!
The ingredients are very straightforward and might be things you already have on hand (if you are someone who consistently stocks your freezer with ice cream)! You might have one problem with this recipe – your kids won’t stop asking for it. Jack and Will equate an Orange Julius to a smoothie and expect that if they ask for one, I will say yes every time. It was a hard lesson when I explained that an Orange Julius was actually a dessert and not one of our typical nutrient dense (read: spinach – packed) smoothies. They were slightly disappointed.
How to Get Rid of Ice Chunks
I really dislike ice chunks in my drinks. If it’s a whole ice cube (and it’s supposed to be there), that’s one thing. But, if I am specifically blending ice – for the sole purpose of getting rid of the chunks – it is really annoying to me if I get a chunk.
The one trick that I have found that helps with this problem (besides getting a new blender) is to add the ice last. By doing this, the blender tends to create a vortex pulling the ice down and more evenly crushing it. It doesn’t work every single time, but it has made a noticeable difference in the number of ice chunks at the end of blending.
The other thing that helps is to simply blend it longer. You can also blend in spurts. This way, it isn’t hard on your blender but you are still able to get it nice and smooth.
Let’s Talk Blenders
If you are a smoothie lover, you know that the right blender makes all the difference. The range of price tags when it comes to smoothies is, frankly, staggering. If you want to go all out, you can splurge on a Vitamix. While I don’t personally own one (the price tag is a bit too much for me), I have heard nothing but rave reviews from people who own one.
I personally own this Ninja blender and think it does an awesome job. It is a fraction of the price of a Vitamix and it often goes on sale. If you aren’t quite ready to take the plunge into the Vitamix world, I highly recommend a Ninja blender!
Looking for Even More Dessert Recipes?
- Salted Caramel Cookies
- Mini Cheesecakes with Raspberry Compote
- Caramel Apple Crisp
- Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches
- Easy Fruit Pizzas
Healthy, Quick & Easy Recipes
Whenever I ask my readers what types of recipes they would like to see more of, the resounding answer is always “quick and easy dinners”. I always like hearing that answer because those are the kind of recipes that I want to make! So, whenever you come to Land of 10,000 Recipes, you will always be able to find recipes that are healthy, quick and easy!
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Tips for Involving Kids
- Let your kids be in charge of the blender. Pushing buttons is always a very coveted position in our household!
- Have your kids measure out the ingredients and pour them into the blender.
- There is always going to be a mess when you cook with your kids but, like my little guy Will says, “It’s okay Mom, chefs make messes and then they clean it up.” Have fun cooking with your kids!!
Copycat Orange Julius
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 oz frozen orange juice concentrate half a can
- 1 cup skim milk
- 1 cup vanilla ice cream
- 2 Tbsp white sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1½ cups ice cubes
Instructions
- Add everything to the blender, adding the ice cubes last.6 oz frozen orange juice concentrate, 1 cup skim milk, 1 cup vanilla ice cream, 2 Tbsp white sugar, 2 tsp vanilla extract, 1½ cups ice cubes
- Blend until smooth and enjoy!
