The Best Thing Ever When You’re At Home For Breakfast, Eatin’ Sausage and Syrupy Things

ojulius The other day I mentioned that our mall Dippin’ Dots has gone the way of so many Orange Julius mall locations (CLOSED!). After thinking about it, I suppose that Orange Julius was not ever in every single mall in the country; rather, I probably thought that because there was one in each of the few malls I frequented when I was a kid/teen. (Which weren’t many, actually; I’m pretty certain that a mall as we know it today was a pretty new thing in the ’70s anyway! My first mall? Lincoln Mall in Matteson, Illinois: opened in 1973!)

My mention of Orange Julius locations being fewer and far between sent Michelle into a mini-panic, as she thought I was saying that they were all going Bye-bye. Not true. What I can offer, to make up for the panic attack, is the recipe I have for homemade Orange Julius. My mom has been making it since I can remember, and it goes great with any “breakfast with effort”, like pancakes, waffles, Breakfast Pizza (YUM), or whatever. The recipe is almost too simple to be believed:

Homemade Orange Julius*

6 ounces frozen orange juice
1 cup milk
1 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
12-14 ice cubes (For some reason, I compulsively–ALWAYS–use 13 ice cubes. Not 12. Not 14. I use 13. Don’t ask me why: it’s just one of those adorable things about me that you must love without question.)

Put it all in a blender, blend it up, and serve immediately. That’s it. Honestly. (Or should I say “Honest and Truly!?”) Michelle is currently gambling her life savings away in Sin City, so while she’s gone everyone else can enjoy this; hopefully she’ll have enough money left after her trip to keep the internets going til she can stop in here at the Scrawl!

*By the way, I did a search for “Homemade Orange Julius” and there are many sites out there listing a few variations on this. My advice? Though I think the recipe used in my family is the best–feel free to tweak it to fit your own taste! This is America, after all! (and if you’re not reading this in America, you’re still free to tweak!)

14 Comments

  • Melissa

    (For some reason, I compulsively–ALWAYS–use 13 ice cubes. Not 12. Not 14. I use 13. Don’t ask me why: it’s just one of those adorable things about me that you must love without question.)

    OMG, are you sure we’re not related? This is so something I would do.

    Now here’s a shocker, I’ve never had an Orange Julius. And with a half a cup of sugar it doesn’t look like I will be having one anytime soon…darnit!

  • Anonymous

    From Dawn:

    I have that same recipe in my recipe box. Did I get it from you?

    When my mom and I visited the boy at camp this summer, we took him to the mall to pick up a few things and he NEEDED an Orange Julius. He acted like he was the one who discovered the sweet sensation. I hated to burst his bubble. So, yeah, there still is an Orange Julius location in urban Illinios. Fear not, my sweet friend! 🙂

  • House of Jules

    You know good & well that if mom reads this post she's going to give you a virtual slap on the hand for giving away a "family recipe"… because to her they're ALL family recipes.

  • Anissa Mayhew

    I’ve never had a particular thing for an Orange Julius, but I think there’s a good chance that I’ll have to try it out now. Don’t decide to make up a tasty recipe with crystal meth, because I’ll be forced to try that TOO!

  • Sarah Clapp

    I’m so trying this. I love Orange Julius, and they closed the one at our Mall to put up a Dunkin Donuts, because, yeah we need another one of those.

  • Melisa

    Melissa: No worries, this recipe is not for ONE serving. It’s about 4. LOL Still alot of sugar, but (obviously) really good. I don’t make it when I’m trying to be healthy though.

    Dawndi: Yep, you probably got it from me, though I can’t prove it or pinpoint the actual day on which I gave it to you. 🙂 Maybe we made it after those disastrous margaritas in the Cuisinart? 🙂

    Julie: Ha! Well, I feel safe in knowing that I was able to search and find almost this exact recipe in about 25 places today, and it’s not like I’m posting the recipes for Chocolate chip banana bread, whiskey cake, Texas cake, strudel, or any of those “priceless” ones. (Hungry, anyone? LOL)

    Anissa: I’ll TRY to restrain myself from inventing a recipe containing crystal meth. ROFL!

    Sarah: So my town is not the only one with Dunkin Donuts on every other corner? Good to know!

  • Kat

    13 icecubes? Isn’t that a bit much? Though the compulsive thing sounds familiar, just ask the hubby :).

    I have noticed that Europeans just aren’t into that whole icecubes in your drink thing. Sometimes that is a really bad thing.

  • Dea

    So uh, looks delish – what all sorts of, ahem, spirits shall we say? would you recommend inside of those beauties???

  • Michelle

    Yay! Thanks Melisa. Although I won’t say that I had a *full blown* panic attack… just some ummm anxiety. That’s it. Just a little anxiety.

    Thanks for the recipe — I’ll definitely be doing this the next time I make pancakes or scones or my orange french toast (oooo, a theme!). Yum! (And you make it look so good, too!)

    And you’ll be happy to know that ummm I sort of didn’t gamble even a penny while in Sin City. I’m anal enough that I can’t give away my money. I’m much happier when I just watch others gamble. My husband on the other hand lost at poker, lost at craps, lost in the sports book and I believe lost (although he may have ended up slightly up) at roulette. Pathetic, isn’t it? Oh, and I can’t wait to tell my story about the rockin’ pool getting closed yesterday so the European pool was opened to everyone!

  • Michelle

    Oh yeah… and umm, when you use 13 ice cubes (which I totally get), what size ice cubes are they? Are they the smaller square ones that you get out of the tray or are they the longer ones that the ice maker makes? Because, you know, that sort of makes a difference 😉

  • Melisa

    Kat: 13 icecubes. Yes. This is not for one drink; it makes enough for 4 (or 2 thirsty ones). But I understand the European aversion to ice. Well, I don’t understand it, but I am aware of it. 🙂

    Deanna: Hmm. I’m not good with recommending spirits; if my sister comes back to this comment section, she might be able to recommend something…

    Michelle: I know, I know, but a full panic attack made for way more dramatic reading, doesn’t it? LOL And good question on the ice cubes. I have an ice maker, so I use those funny looking half circle pieces of ice that come from there… (and BTW, I would be the same kind of “gambler” as you are!)

  • Colleen

    Must.make.orange.juliuses. (Yes, that’s a word. Now.)

    I’m sad they’re all going – I thought they were in every mall, too!

  • Melisa

    Colleen: I repeat: THEY ARE NOT ALL GOING! 🙂 It just SEEMED like it to me; according to the website, they’re alive and well. 🙂 Yay! (But make your own: it’s cheaper!)

  • Michelle

    Just an update for you… I am in MN for the State Fair and went to a mall in Edina tonight to have dinner with the wee ones and THEY HAD AN ORANGE JULIUS THERE! Unfortunately, even though I tried to save room, I couldn’t drink one after dinner. Maybe tomorrow.

    And on a side note, Chester Taylor was apparently in the same mall (runing back for the Vikings). I know this because a very lovely Land Rover was parked in the same row as my car with Chester Taylor written in rhinestones across the tailgate. And yes, I took pictures.