Today I am sharing one of our favorite drinks – the Healthier Copycat Orange Julius. While I’ve had the Copycat Orange Julius recipe in my recipe box for years, I’ve made quite a few changes over time to make a healthier drink, and also to suit our tastes. Even though I’ve “healthied up” my recipe, this version still tastes like an Orange Julius – a creamy, dreamy orange vanilla dreamsicle.
My current version includes a surprise ingredient: yellow squash. You can’t taste the squash at all, pinkie promise. You’re just going to have to trust me on this! Confession time: I’m not a big fan of yellow squash. I’ve tried to like it (really, I have). I’ll eat it but it’s certainly not high on my list of produce favorites. The Hubby and The Teens like it even less than I do. I’m also not a proponent of hiding veggies in food but I make an exception for this recipe. If The Teens knew I put squash in this drink they would never, ever drink it again – game over. Mums the word, okay?
I no longer cringe when I receive yellow squash in my Bountiful Basket because I know exactly how I will use them. I got the idea of adding yellow squash to my Copycat Orange Julius from the Fresh Blends cookbook by Blendtec.
In addition to posting the recipe as I currently make it, I am including some of the ingredients from my original version for additional options. I think this drink is sweet enough without adding any sugars or honey, though.
HEALTHIER COPYCAT ORANGE JULIUS
INGREDIENTS:
3 oz. frozen orange juice concentrate
1/2 cup Vanilla almond milk (feel free to substitute your favorite milk)
1-2 oranges, peeled and cut in half
1/4 cup yellow squash, chopped, uncooked
1/2 – 3/4 cup ice cubes
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
Optional: 1 tbsp. powdered sugar, to make it frothy (I don’t add)
Optional: 1/4 cup sugar or 1 Tbsp. honey (I don’t add either)
DIRECTIONS:
1. Place ingredients in blender jar and attach lid.
2. Blend until smooth and serve.
Serves 2.
- 3 oz. frozen orange juice concentrate
- ½ cup Vanilla almond milk (feel free to substitute your favorite milk)
- 1-2 oranges, peeled and cut in half
- ¼ cup yellow squash, chopped, uncooked
- ½ - ¾ cup ice cubes
- ½ tsp. vanilla extract
- Optional: 1 tbsp. powdered sugar, to make it frothy (I don't add)
- Optional: ¼ cup sugar or 1 Tbsp. honey (I don't add either)
- Place ingredients in blender jar and attach lid.
- Blend until smooth and serve.
- Serves 2.
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Absolutely delicious!
Glad you enjoyed it, Susan!