Orange Julius Recipe Without Concentrate {With Fresh Orange Juice}

This Orange Julius recipe without concentrate really is the best. It’s so simple and easy to make with just 4 ingredients, including fresh orange juice, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla, and ice. It’s a quick iced drink you’ll crave time and again to cool you off all summer long.

Orange Julius with fresh orange juice

When the warm weather hits, there’s nothing like homemade iced drinks. And this recipe for an orange Julius is perfect for sipping on hot days or any time of year, really.

My orange Julius is delightfully sweet and creamy, with a refreshing tang and zest, and guarantees you the best iced orange drink every single time. Plus, it takes only minutes to make, and your entire family will love it.

For more summer drinks, try this sweet tea, rose milk, lavender milk, or frozen hot chocolate.

And for another fun orange drink, try this orange sherbet punch!

What is Orange Julius?

First things first. What exactly is an Orange Julius? An Orange Julius is a chilled, creamy beverage made with orange juice, milk, a sweetener, vanilla, and ice. It’s frothy and mild tasting, something between a smoothie and a milkshake.

Ingredients

• Orange juice: Fresh orange juice is required for the zingiest and most refreshing Orange Julius. You can use 100% real orange juice, but the freshness really shines in this simple recipe.
• Sweetened condensed milk replaces the milk + sugar and balances the tartness from the oranges while sweetening.
• Vanilla extract: A touch of vanilla mellows the orange flavor and creates a creamsicle-like aroma.
• Ice thickens and chills the drink. I used ice cubes, but crushed ice or pellets will work as well.

Variations

• Lemon Orange: Prepare the drink with 3/4 cup orange juice and 1/4 cup lemon juice.
• Strawberry Banana: Replace the ice cubes with a handful of frozen strawberries and frozen bananas.
• Key Lime: Swap out the orange juice for the same amount of freshly squeezed lime juice.
• Dairy-Free: Substitute the condensed milk with dairy-free condensed coconut milk.

Instructions

1. Blend the liquid ingredients

Pour the orange juice, sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla extract into a blender. Put the lid on and pulse until smooth and well combined.  

2. Add the ice cubes

Place the ice cubes in the blender. Process until the ice is crushed and the mixture has thickened and looks frothy.

3. Adjust the texture (optional)

If the texture ends up a bit thick, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of additional orange juice and mix again until you reach your desired consistency.

4. Serve

Pour into a glass and optionally garnish with fresh orange slices and a dollop of whipped cream. Enjoy right away.

Storage instructions

• Can you make it ahead of time? Because the drink is blended with ice, it’s best prepared fresh. Otherwise, the ice will melt too much and water down the drink. However, you can juice the oranges and refrigerate the juice until it’s time to make the drink.
• Store: If you have leftovers, keep it in a sealed jar or jug in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.