Homemade Orange Julius drinks are really, really easy to make at home. And they are way cheaper than what you can buy at those mall stands too.

We mainly use this recipe when we have breakfast for dinner. It’s a quick addition that makes even basic pancakes feel just a little bit more special.

A few homemade Orange Julius notes

• The recipe calls for a 6-ounce can of OJ concentrate. These are a little hard to find, and besides, a bigger can is cheaper. So, I buy a regular can and just use half for a recipe. Store the other half in the freezer for your next batch.
• A good blender definitely makes a difference here. I used to make this with my cheap blender (use what you have!), but the Vitamix does a much better job of pulverizing the ice.

(I wrote a review of my Vitamix along with tips about where to find the cheapest Vitamix.)

• You can adjust the sugar amount as you wish. I often use 1/4 or 1/3 cup of sugar instead of the 1/2 cup called for in the recipe.
• The vanilla is also very flexible; adjust to taste! This is not a good spot to use imitation vanilla, though; that’s only tasty in baked goods. Use the good stuff here.

Making Orange Julius is quick! Just dump all the ingredients into the blender.

And then blend for a minute or two, until it’s smooth and slushy.

This melts pretty quickly in warm temperatures, so I like to put our glasses in the freezer while I’m making this drink.

That way, they’re nice and cold when I’m ready to pour.

Scroll down for the printable recipe!

Homemade Orange Julius

Yield: 4 servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

These slushy orange drinks make a great addition to a breakfast for dinner meal!

Print

Ingredients

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup sugar (can use 1/4 or 1/3 cup)
• 1/2-1 teaspoon vanilla
• 6 oz. frozen orange juice concentrate
• 12-15 ice cubes

Instructions

1. Place glasses in freezer to chill.
2. Combine all ingredients in blender; blend for 1-2 minutes, or until mixture is slushy. Pour into glasses and serve immediately.

Notes

To save money, buy a 12 ounce can of orange juice concentrate; use half and freeze the other half for a future batch.

Nutrition Information

Yield 4 Serving Size 1
Amount Per Serving Calories 204Total Fat 1gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 5mgSodium 39mgCarbohydrates 46gFiber 1gSugar 40gProtein 3g