Orange Smoothie

Brighten your day with a creamy Orange Smoothie that tastes like a classic creamsicle or maybe even an Orange Julius. Made with just five simple ingredients and real fruit, it’s perfect for breakfast, an after-school snack, or a sweet treat anytime!

Love the flavors of orange and vanilla? Try Orange Creamsicle Jello Mold or No-Bake Creamsicle Cheesecake Parfaits!

Why You’ll Love This Orange Smoothie Recipe

Who loves a creamsicle? If you do, then this is the smoothie for you with that combination of orange and vanilla that is like a taste of childhood. Whether it was the orange and cream popsicles from the ice cream truck, a swirl of soft serve vanilla ice cream and orange sorbet on a cone in the summer, or an Orange Julius from the mall, it is such a nostalgic flavor.

But an orange smoothie is a way to satisfy those cravings with less sugar and using fresh ingredients instead! Here’s why it might just become your new favorite…

• Just a few simple ingredients. With only 5 ingredients and lots of real fruit, it’s definitely more wholesome than anything from the mall food court. And you can blend one up in less time than it would take to find a parking spot!
• Customizable. It’s easy to blend in greens, superfoods, or protein if you want to add even more nutrition. You can even make it dairy free, and it’s already naturally gluten free.
• Perfect any time of the day. The bright flavors are sure to wake you up, the addition of yogurt is a great energy boost during the afternoon slump, and the sweet flavor will fit the bill for dessert.

Recipe Ingredients

Here’s an overview of what you’ll need to make this fresh orange smoothie recipe. Scroll down to the recipe card to get the full amounts and see the directions.

• Orange juice: Freshly squeezed or from a carton or bottle, just be sure it is 100% juice with no added sugar or artificial flavors. While I usually use milk in smoothies, using OJ gives that extra orange flavor.
• Peeled and seeded orange: Yes, you will an entire orange. Just be sure to remove the peel, as the pith (the white part) will give a bitter taste to your smoothie.
• Vanilla Greek yogurt: This is where you pack in the protein and make it creamy. You can also use plain, but then you might want to add a bit of vanilla extract and might have to sweeten it up a bit.
• Frozen peaches: Buy a bag from the freezer section of the grocery store or peel, slice, and freeze them when they are in season.
• Frozen banana: The best thing to do when they are overripe (besides banana muffins) is to freeze bananas for smoothies. Cut them into chunks before freezing, or toss the entire peeled banana in the freezer and break it apart when you are ready to make your smoothie. Frozen bananas give smoothies an ice cream-like texture.

Tips and Variations

It really doesn’t get easier than making a smoothie – just add the ingredients to a blender and blend till smooth and creamy. But there are a few things to keep in mind for the perfect orange smoothie that meets all your needs.

• Enjoy right away. Remember, you are using frozen fruit, so if you let it sit, it can become watery.
• Adjust the consistency. If you prefer a frostier or thinner smoothie, you can add some ice or additional liquid. While milk will curdle with the orange juice, you can use more OJ or try a dairy-free milk.
• Make it without dairy. There are lots of vegan yogurt alternatives, or skip the yogurt and try a little nondairy milk to achieve the right thickness.
• Sneak in more nutrition. Add a handful of spinach or other greens to get extra fiber, vitamins, and minerals, though you will lose that bright orange color. Toss in some flax seeds or chia seeds for Omega-3s. Or boost the protein with your favorite protein powder or collagen powder.
• Make more smoothies. I shared this recipe as part of my review of The Protein Smoothie Bible by my friend, Erin from the food blog DelightfulEMade. In this book, you get SIXTY smoothie recipes. Some are fruity, like Very Cherry & Red Raspberry. Others sneak in some veggies to help you achieve Inner Peas. And there are even a few that add ingredients to make them a little extra satisfying to have as a meal. Some even taste like dessert such as Bananas Foster. Then let’s not forget a few kid favorites like this Orange Smoothie.