How to Make the Best Orange Julius Recipe – Whip up your favorite wonderfully tangy, frothy, ice-cold orange drink at home with our best copycat Dairy Queen Orange Julius!

Two jars filled with orange julius smoothie with straws and a fresh orange on top.

What Is An Orange Julius?

Who here remembers and loves Orange Julius?!

If you are wondering, ok what is Orange Julius, I think we are both showing our ages. *wink* But not to worry, the magic of the OG, I mean O.J., absolutely transcends generations and can be beloved by all.

Classic Orange Julius “restaurants” were staple food court stands once located in nearly every mall across America. Their foamy, frosty juice smoothies and icy treats became so popular, eventually, you could find them partnered with freestanding Dairy Queen fast-food restaurants throughout the country.

Growing up in the 80s and 90s, trips to the mall were something to be prized. We always looked forward to pursuing stores like Benetton and Express, nibbling on giant cookies, and then, of course, the stop at Orange Julius before we left.

Our local Orange Julius and Dairy Queen locations have slowly disappeared over the years. Therefore, in order to have that nostalgic frothy tangy smoothie fix, I’ve had to learn to make Orange Julius at home!

Overhead shot of orange julius smoothies in jars and granished with fresh orange.

Copycat Dairy Queen Orange Julius Recipe

It is so easy to make totally rad Orange Julius at home in just minutes.

After lots of research and tweaking, we have developed for sure the Best Orange Julius Recipe which perfectly replicates that signature sweet and creamy drink we crave every summer.

Those who are familiar with classic Orange Julius will love taking a trip down memory lane with every sip. And if you’ve never had one before, you’ll definitely see what the hype is all about.

The entire family will be asking for these tangy and refreshing orange fruit smoothies all season long! Very boss, indeed.

Frozen orange juice concentrate in a blender.

What Ingredients You Need

I’ve tried this recipe with a few different combinations of ingredients, and have found the best blend by far for a copycat Orange Julius includes just a handful of specific items.

Here’s all that you need:

  • Orange Juice Concentrate
  • Milk – either 2% or whole milk
  • Water
  • Granulated sugar – you can use coconut sugar or another white sugar substitute
  • Egg Whites – for getting just the right foaminess
  • Vanilla Extract – to balance out the tangy and tart orange, and create an orange creamsicle-like flavor
  • Ice Cubes

Why do most Orange Julius recipes include egg white? It’s the secret ingredient beloved by bartenders worldwide for creating a rich and creamy texture in a beverage, but without adding any flavor.

The protein-heavy egg white gives drinks a beautiful foamy, frothy body BUT they are included and served uncooked in this recipe. Like Caesar dressings and French creams made with raw eggs, there is a slight risk of contracting salmonella. You should certainly use pasteurized eggs to decrease the chances of illness, and it is recommended that pregnant women avoid raw eggs altogether.

How to Make Orange Julius

All you need is a blender and 5 minutes to whip up a super yummy homemade citrus smoothie!

It is really just this simple:

  1. Place all ingredients in a blender.
  2. Puree until smooth.
  3. Serve and enjoy.

Booyah!

I love to garnish the glass with a slice of fresh fruit and enjoy it with a (compostable paper) straw.

Get the Complete (Printable) Best Homemade Orange Julius Recipe + VIDEO Below. Enjoy!

Hand grabbing a jar of orange julius smoothie.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Does This Recipe Make?

This homemade citrus smoothie recipe is enough for 2 large (approximately 20 oz. each) or 4 small (10 oz.) servings.

Can I Make Dairy Queen Orange Julius Ahead Of Time?

They are best enjoyed freshly made, and I do not recommend saving them for later. (Also with how amazing this brunch/treat is, I have never had leftovers.)

What Other Flavors Can I Make?

There are nearly limitless flavors you can try with this copycat Orange Julius recipe. Our other favorite foamy versions include Strawberry Orange Julius and Pineapple Orange Julius – both are perfect for summer!

Simply swap the orange juice concentrate for 8 ounces of frozen strawberries or frozen pineapple chunks, or your frozen fruit of choice.

Other ingredients you can throw in include coconut milk, banana, vanilla ice cream, or almond milk.

What Can I Do With The Leftover Egg Yolks?

You can make a wonderful Caesar dressing… If you are wondering what to do with the unused egg yolks, you should definitely try this Steakhouse Caesar Salad. It includes an easy recipe for the best homemade Caesar dressing, and is an excellent way to use extra yolks!

Orange julius in a jar with orange on top.

Looking for More Refreshing Drink Recipes?

Check the printable recipe card below for the prep time, total time, and nutrition information including calories, carbohydrates, cholesterol, sodium, potassium, vitamin c, and calcium percentages. Make sure to share this recipe on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

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How to Make the Best Orange Julius + VIDEO

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
How to Make the Best Orange Julius – Whip up your favorite wonderfully tangy, frothy, ice-cold orange drink at home with the best copycat Orange Julius recipe!
Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 6 ounces orange juice concentrate half a can
  • 1 cup milk 2% or whole
  • ½ cup water
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 egg white about 3 tablespoons
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 ¾ cups ice cubes

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients in the blender.
  • Puree until smooth.

Video

Notes

This copycat Orange Julius recipe makes 2 large (20 oz. each) or 4 small (10 oz.) drinks.
Want to Make Strawberry or Pineapple Orange Julius? Swap the orange juice concentrate for 8 ounces frozen strawberries or frozen pineapple chunks.

Nutrition

Serving: 10oz., Calories: 179kcal, Carbohydrates: 36g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 2g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 6mg, Sodium: 47mg, Potassium: 379mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 36g, Vitamin A: 260IU, Vitamin C: 59mg, Calcium: 86mg, Iron: 1mg
Course: Beverage, Drinks
Cuisine: American
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