Healthy Homemade Orange Julius

Healthy Homemade Orange Julius is copy-cat version of a childhood favorite.  This Easy Orange Julius is made with zero sugars and dairy-free! Directions on how to turn this childhood favorite into a Tipsy Orange Julius Cocktail for adults to enjoy. 

We were walking through the mall the other day and as my husband began to grow anxious and impatient as I drifted in and out of stores, I heard him mumble that he better get an Orange Julius out of this torture.

Torture?!! Okay I will admit, shopping is kind of tortuous for even me–I can NEVER find what I am looking for. Or on the rare chance I do, it doesn’t fit. Story of my life.  So I forgave him of his little outburst and he did in fact find a place to get an Orange Julius.

When I asked him why they were so good, he looked at me with wide eyes. As if it was a sin to ask such a question. But the truth was, I never opted to get an Orange Julius at the mall. In fact, even though I had heard of Orange Julius’, I didn’t know what they were.

Chocolate is my vice. I want to indulge in Chocolate Peanut Butter Milkshakes or Chocolate Covered Strawberry Smoothies, over tropical drinks.

What is an Orange Julius?

An Orange Julius is a blend of frozen orange juice concentrate, milk, vanilla, sugar, and ice. It’s like a dessert smoothie.

And I must admit when I tried a sip of the Orange Julius, it was good and refreshing, but the sugar in that sucker!! WHOA!

I knew I had to learn to make one of my husband’s favorites at home, so we could enjoy without the sugar crash.

Healthy Homemade Orange Julius

Behold my HEALTHY ORANGE JULIUS.

I took out the ALL the added sugars in the original drink to create a healthier take on an Orange Julius, and this recipe could not be any easier!

3 simple ingredients and I made a killer good rendition of the classic.

My secret?

Orange juice concentrate.

Oh yes, it is high in sugar–but natural sugars. And when you mix that with your choice of non-dairy milk, and a bit of vanilla extract, you have a nearly perfect rendition of the flavor or the original Orange Julius

Add in a splash of vanilla vodka and BAM– a TIPSY ORANGE JULIUS.  

Notes on Homemade Orange Julius

• If serving this Orange Julius to adults, I suggest adding some vanilla vodka for a Tipsy Orange Julius Cocktail.
• I like to use unsweetened vanilla almond milk (that has zero grams of added sugar) in the base of this Orange Julius. Canned Coconut milk is another delicious non-dairy option and is a bit reminiscent of my Pina Colada Recipe.   
• If you are not dairy free, you can use regular milk for this Orange Julius recipe.
• Be sure to use pulp-free orange juice concentrate for a smoother cocktail.
• If you use vanilla flavored non-dairy milk, you can omit the vanilla extract.

More Smoothie Recipes

• Blueberry Smoothie
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Smoothie
• Sweet Potato Smoothie
• Chocolate Covered Strawberry Smoothie
• Mango Berry Smoothie from Minimalist Baker

Orange Julius Recipe

Healthy Homemade Orange Julius

3 simple, all natural ingredients come together to create a copycat version of a childhood favorite.

5 from 2 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Orange Julius

Prep Time: 2 minutes

Total Time: 2 minutes

Servings: 6

Calories: 128kcal

Author: Kristen Chidsey

Ingredients

• 1 container orange concentrate still frozen
• 5 cups unsweetened almond milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4-6 ounces vanilla vodka optional

Instructions

• Place all ingredients (including vodka) into the blender and blend until smooth. Serve immediately.

Notes

• If serving this Orange Julius to adults, I suggest adding some vanilla vodka for a Tipsy Orange Julius Cocktail. You can use up to 6 ounces (1 ounce per serving) I personally only use 1/2 ounce per serving. 
• I like to use unsweetened vanilla almond milk (that has zero grams of added sugar) in the base of this Orange Julius. Canned Coconut milk is another delicious non-dairy option and creates a richer smoothie. 
• If you are not dairy free, you can use regular milk for this Orange Julius recipe.
• Be sure to use pulp-free orange juice concentrate for a smoother cocktail.
• If you use vanilla flavored non-dairy milk, you can omit the vanilla extract. 

Nutrition Facts

Healthy Homemade Orange Julius

Amount Per Serving

Calories 128 Calories from Fat 18

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 2g 3%

Sodium 216mg 9%

Potassium 13mg 0%

Total Carbohydrates 1g 0%

Sugars 10g

Vitamin C 3.3%

Calcium 20%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

I would love to know how you enjoy this recipe!Snap a picture and tag #amindfullmom on Instagram or Facebook - I would love to see!

For more Tasty Cocktails, Check these out from Food Network’s Let’s Pull Up a Chair Group:

Devour: Get Bowled Over by These Spiked-Punch Recipes
Creative Culinary: Bourbon Peach Smash Cocktail
The Lemon Bowl: Strawberry Mojitos
The Fed Up Foodie: Rainbow Tequila Sangria
FN Dish: End-of-Summer Swigs You’ll Want to Make by the Pitcher