How To Create The Ideal Alcoholic Orange Julius

Orange Julius is a frothy orange creamsicle-flavored frozen beverage that saw a rise in popularity during the days of the mall food court in the 1980s. While the drink can still be found today at Dairy Queen stores, it's also pretty easy to make at home with a blender. Plus, at home, you can spike your Orange Julius with the alcohol of your choice or add other fruits to the mix to change the flavor. If you're planning to make a boozy Orange Julius, it's important to choose an alcohol base that suits your tastes best. Since orange juice pairs well with most spirits, you will have plenty of options from which to choose.

For example, vodka is one of the most neutral spirits, and its clean taste won't overpower the cocktail's other ingredients. On the other hand, rum has a more complex flavor but can add depth to the drink — especially if you use an aged rum instead of white rum. Tequila can also add a funky, tangy flavor to your adult Orange Julius, reminiscent of a Texas margarita. For a low-ABV approach, triple sec, Aperol, Cointreau, and Grand Marnier are citrus-based liqueurs that can enhance the orange flavor of the drink but are also very sweet. As a general rule of thumb, try to find alcohol options that complement or balance the bright, citrusy flavors of the drink and its other notes, like vanilla. 

To make our alcohol-spiked Orange Julius recipe, you will need a blender, alcohol, ice, orange juice, sugar, milk, powdered egg whites, and vanilla flavoring. All ingredients should be combined in the blender until the contents are frothy and smooth. Pour your adult Orange Julius into cups and serve with straws.

If possible, consider taking the time to juice oranges yourself, as freshly squeezed orange juice is the star ingredient in this drink. When shopping, find ripe, juicy oranges and squeeze them just before making the drink to get a sweet, tangy flavor that many store-bought juice brands can't replicate. Save the rinds for a garnish, or add some zest for extra flavor. 

Orange Julius uses sweeteners to cut the acidity from the oranges. The original recipe uses cane sugar and vanilla extract, but you can replace the sugar with agave syrup or stevia. If you're spiking the drink with a sweet liqueur, you might want to leave out the sweetener altogether to avoid a sugar overload, but you can still add a splash of vanilla extract for that creamsicle taste. As for the egg whites, if you can't find the powdered version, you can use fresh egg whites by cracking an egg and separating the white from the yolk. However, it's important to exercise caution if using raw egg whites in any alcoholic drink. Otherwise, you can swap the egg whites for aquafaba to maintain the drink's signature frothy texture.