Name: Healthy Orange Julius Smoothie
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 2 oranges (peeled); 1 banana (large, peeled, quartered & frozen); 1/4-1/2 cup almond milk (or sub coconut milk); 15 large ice cubes; 20 grams whey protein isolate (optional*); 2 teaspoons vanilla

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This Healthy Orange Julius Recipe is a flashback to childhood! They were my favorite treat when visiting malls. This fresh orange smoothie is a much healthier version, as shown in the nutritional stats comparison below!

A happy kid holding an orange julius smoothie.

*This post was originally published in April of 2015, but has been updated with new photos, and a recipe with the amount doubled. It continues to be a popular recipe on Vitamin Sunshine, and a favorite treat in our house!

A Healthier Version of the Popular Orange Julius

As a kid, we didn’t go to malls or out to eat often. When we did, my mom was pretty lax about the choices we made. She turned a blind eye when I would fill my plate with an egg-bacon-cheese “salad” and chocolate mousse at buffet restaurants, and order deep fried chimichangas at Mexican restaurants.

A stop at Orange Julius when we were in malls was mandatory! Creamy, delicious, and — made of oranges? A pretty good “treat”, right?

a list of the ingredients in an Orange Julius.

Here’s the ingredient list of a classic Orange Julius:

I’m not quite sure what sodium carboxymethylcellulose or Maltodextrin is, but I am pretty sure I will NOT be feeding it to my son. I do see dextrose, sugar, and corn syrup solids — 3 different forms of sugar. (Lots of these ingredients are on my Food Additive Nix List (free printable available)- a great resource for navigating nutrition labels!).

I was surprised to see actual concentrated orange juice on the list, especially considering the nutritional stats.

Nutritional Stats of a classic Orange Julius vs. a Homemade Orange Smoothie:

A comparison of the nutritional stats for a classic orange julius drink vs. this healthy orange smoothie.

The mall drink is packed with more sugar than a can of soda, and besides having vitamin C from the orange juice it contains, it’s devoid of nutrients. It’s a sugar bomb with no protein and no fiber.

My Healthy Orange Julius Smoothie is made with real fruit, and contains no added sugars — the 20 grams it contains come straight from the oranges and banana. Because it’s made with whole ingredients, it also has a nice dose of fiber, Vitamin A, calcium and iron.

The ingredients for an Orange Julius Smoothie shown labeled.

Are Oranges Good in Smoothies?

I didn’t start using whole oranges in smoothies until I got a Vitamix. That thing will blend just about anything into a smooth texture. Since I use the oranges fresh and not frozen in this smoothie, it will also work in a regular blender.

Fresh oranges add a ton of sweetness and a tart flavor that I love to smoothies – so although this fruit is often overlooked at smoothie bars, it shouldn’t be!

An orange smoothie topped with whipped cream.

How to Make Orange Julius at Home?

An Orange Julius is just a frothy vanilla-orange smoothie. When I was a kid, my mom would make them for us at home by using concentrated orange juice, and blending it with ice and vanilla. That’s where I got the idea for this easy Orange Julius recipe.

The one from the mall is light and creamy, so I like to add either almond milk or coconut milk. I also find that using whey protein isolate, in addition to giving it a protein kick to make it more satiating, gives it that frothy and light texture.

How to Make a Healthy Orange Julius Smoothie

Step 1: Add peeled oranges, frozen bananas, almond milk, ice, and vanilla to a blender. Add whey protein if using (I highly recommend this!).

Step 2: Process the smoothie until it’s light and frothy.

Step 1 shows adding all the ingredients, including whole peeled oranges, to a blender. Step 2 shows blending it to a creamy consistency.

Step 3: Serve the smoothie right away so that it stays icy cold!

Step 4: If desired, garnish the smoothie is orange zest and whipped cream, if desired. You can keep this orange smoothie vegan by using a vegan protein powder and coconut whipped cream.

Step 3 shows pouring the smoothie, and step 4 shows garnishing it with whipped cream and orange zest.

The Perfect Orange Smoothie Recipe

Make it Vegan: Sub your favorite vegan protein, or omit the protein power.

Make it Your Own: Turn this healthy Orange Julius Smoothie into a healthy Strawberry Orange Julius by adding a couple of strawberries. Add spinach for an extra nutrient boost. I also like making this with grapefruits for an extra tart but still creamy and delicious treat.

Other Healthy Orange Smoothie Recipes:

Immunity Boosting Orange Smoothie, by Kristine’s Kitchen Blog
Strawberry Orange Sunrise Smoothie, by Garnish and Glaze
Orange Dreamcicle Green Smoothie, by Sunkissed Kitchen
Golden Turmeric Smoothie, by Sunkissed Kitchen

A child and an adult both holding an orange smoothie to cheers.

If you make this recipe, be sure to share it with me! Find me on Facebook or Instagram and be sure to tag #SunkissedKitchen @SunkissedKitch

Two orange julius smoothies shown sitting next to orange slices.

Healthy Orange Julius Smoothie

Replace the classic mall drink with a healthier orange smoothie made with whole fruit. This version is naturally sweetened with fruit and makes a healthy and refreshing snack!

4.09 from 23 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Servings: smoothies

Calories: 171kcal

Author: Michelle Miller

Ingredients

▢ 2 oranges peeled
▢ 1 banana large, peeled, quartered & frozen
▢ 1/4-1/2 cup almond milk or sub coconut milk
▢ 15 large ice cubes
▢ 20 grams whey protein isolate optional*
▢ 2 teaspoons vanilla

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

For a thick smoothie, be sure your banana is completely frozen prior to making a smoothie. I also only use 1/4 cup of liquid to keep things on the thicker side.
Add peeled oranges, frozen banana, ice cubes, your choice of milk (can sub orange juice for a sweeter smoothie), optional protein powder, and vanilla to a blender. This works best in a high speed blender, but can be made in a good quality standard blender.
Blend until the oranges are completely smoothie and the smoothie is thick and creamy. Top with a dollop of yogurt or coconut cream, if desired.

Video

Notes

*Use almond milk for the lowest calorie/sugar smoothie. Use orange juice if you’d prefer a sweeter smoothie. I often use coconut milk to add a bit of extra creaminess and richness to the smoothie.

*Whey protein is optional, but I recommend it for the best texture. The whey protein isolate I’ve linked to in the recipe is unsweetened, but has a natural vanilla flavor added that also adds an extra boost of vanilla flavor.