Homemade Orange Julius Copycat (Dairy Free)

This healthy Orange Julius tastes like the frothy, creamy orange drink from the mall, but it is made with whole oranges, a lemon, a banana and a couple of sneaky vegetables you can’t taste at all.

Honey is optional, there is no dairy, and it blends in about a minute.

The Best Healthy Orange Julius (Made with Whole Fruit)

I LOVE sneaking vegetables into my smoothies! You can’t ever taste them, and they provide such awesome nutrients. This Orange Julius hides half a yellow summer squash and a cup of chopped cabbage behind three whole oranges, and nobody will ever guess. You can’t taste them! Crazy, right?

The classic Orange Julius is a blend of orange juice, milk, sugar and ice. This version gets its flavor from whole peeled oranges instead of juice, plus one small strip of orange zest for that bright, fragrant orange taste. A peeled lemon adds a little tang, and the banana makes it thick, creamy and frothy without any milk.

I definitely have a sweet tooth and only like my smoothies sweet, so I add honey or agave. If you like a more tart drink, leave it out and let the oranges and banana do the sweetening. Lots and lots of produce is a must in my kitchen, but sometimes I even run out of ingredients for my favorite smoothie combinations. This one only needs a few things that are easy to keep on hand.

Ice turns it into a frosty, slushy treat. I usually add about another cup of ice to make it thicker. Enjoy it with breakfast, as an afternoon pick me up, or anytime you want a sweet, citrusy drink that is secretly full of good stuff.

Why You’ll Love This Orange Julius Copycat

• Tastes like the original. Bright, frothy and creamy, with a real orange flavor.
• Whole fruit, not juice. Three oranges, a lemon and a banana keep all the fiber.
• Hidden veggies. Yellow squash and cabbage blend in completely.
• Dairy free. The banana makes it creamy with no milk at all.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Exact amounts are in the recipe card below.

• Oranges: Three oranges, peeled. Keep one small strip of zest, about 1/4 inch wide, to blend in with the fruit. The zest holds the orange’s fragrant oils and gives the drink that unmistakable Orange Julius flavor. Use a vegetable peeler to take just the orange part, not the bitter white pith. Navel oranges are seedless, juicy and easy to peel. If your oranges have seeds, pick them out before blending.
• Lemon: One small lemon, peeled. It adds a tangy brightness that makes the orange taste even more vibrant. Remove any seeds and as much white pith as you can. A small lime works in a pinch.
• Banana: The key to the creamy, frothy texture without dairy. A ripe banana with a few brown spots is sweetest. A frozen banana makes it even thicker and colder.
• Yellow summer squash: Half a raw squash, seeds and all. It is mild and slightly sweet, so it disappears behind the citrus while adding body. Wash it well, trim the ends and cut it into chunks. Zucchini works too, but it may tint the drink a little green.
• Cabbage: One cup chopped. Green cabbage is very mild once it is blended with sweet fruit, and it adds great nutrients. Remove the tough core before chopping, and save the rest of the head for salads or slaw.
• Honey or agave: Optional, if you want it sweeter. Taste the drink before adding, since sweet, in season oranges may not need any.
• Ice: One cup to start, then add more according to how thick you like it. Ice gives the drink its frosty, slushy texture. Smaller cubes or crushed ice blend fastest and are easier on a regular blender.

How to Make a Healthy Orange Julius

1. Prep the fruit and vegetables. Before peeling, wash one orange and use a vegetable peeler to take off one small strip of zest, about 1/4 inch wide. Then peel all the oranges and the lemon and remove any seeds. Peel the banana. Cut the squash into chunks and chop the cabbage.
2. Blend the base. In a high speed blender, add the oranges, zest, lemon, banana, squash, cabbage and honey or agave if using. Blend on the highest setting for about 20 to 30 seconds, until completely smooth. The juicy citrus provides all the liquid, so there is no need to add milk or juice.
3. Add the ice. Add 1 cup of ice and blend again until smooth and frothy. The drink should turn pale orange and creamy with a light foam on top. That froth is what makes it taste like the mall classic.
4. Adjust the thickness. For a thicker, slushier Orange Julius, add about another cup of ice and blend until smooth. If it gets too thick to pour, add a splash of cold water.
5. Taste and serve. Taste it and blend in a little more honey if you want it sweeter. Pour into tall glasses and serve right away while it is cold and frothy. Garnish with a thin orange slice if you like.

Ways to Customize This Orange Julius

• Make it creamier. Add a splash of almond milk or a spoonful of vanilla yogurt.
• Add vanilla. A few drops of pure vanilla extract give it a creamsicle flavor.
• Go tropical. Add a handful of frozen pineapple or mango.
• Make it a pink julius. Blend in a handful of frozen strawberries.

Healthy Orange Julius FAQs

• Can you really not taste the squash or cabbage? You can’t taste them! The oranges, lemon and banana completely cover their mild flavor.
• Why add orange zest? A small strip of zest adds the fragrant orange oil that gives the drink its classic flavor. Too much can taste bitter, so keep it to one small strip.
• Can I use orange juice instead of whole oranges? You can swap in 100 percent orange juice, but whole oranges keep the fiber and make the drink thicker and frothier.
• Which oranges work best? Navel oranges are seedless, sweet and easy to peel. Cara Cara oranges are extra sweet and work well too.
• Is it dairy free? Yes. The banana makes it creamy, so there is no milk in this version.
• Do I have to add honey? No, it is optional. Add it only if you want it sweeter.
• Can I add protein? Yes. A scoop of vanilla protein powder makes it taste even more like the original and makes it more filling.
• Do I need a high speed blender? It helps with the zest and cabbage. With a regular blender, chop everything small and blend longer.
• Can I make it ahead? It is best fresh, since it separates as it sits. Freeze leftovers in ice cube trays for your next smoothie.

Orange Banana Smoothie

Orange banana smoothie made with three whole oranges, a little zest, lemon, banana, yellow squash and cabbage blended with ice and optional honey. It tastes like an Orange Julius with no dairy.

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Ingredients

  

• 3 oranges peeled keeping one small slice of zest (about 1/4 inch strip)
• 1 small lemon peeled
• 1 banana peeled
• 1/2 yellow summer squash raw with seeds
• 1 cup cabbage chopped
• 4 Tbs honey or organic agave optional...if you want it sweeter
• 1 cup ice add more according to thickness preference

Instructions

 

• In a Vitamix blender, add oranges, zest, lemon, banana, squash, cabbage, and honey. Blend on highest option for about 20 to 30 seconds until smooth.
• Add ice and blend until smooth. I usually add about another cup of ice to make it thicker.

Made this Orange Julius? Leave a star rating in the recipe card and tell me how it turned out in the comments below. Let me know if anyone could guess the secret veggies.

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