Orange Creamsicle Milkshake Recipe + Video
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Cold, creamy, and wildly nostalgic. This Orange Creamsicle Milkshake Recipe tastes just like summer in a glass… bright citrus balanced by smooth vanilla sweetness. No ice cream, sherbet, or soda in sight. Just 3 simple ingredients (including real fruit juice), transformed into the creamiest, dreamiest shake. Thick enough to sip slowly, soft enough to swirl, and layered with whipped cream for extra drama. Five minutes. One blender. Instant smiles.
Table of Contents
WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS ORANGE CREAMSICLE DRINK
- Tastes exactly like a classic orange creamsicle
- No ice cream needed (yes, really)
- Thick, milkshake-style texture in minutes
- Perfect balance of tangy and sweet
- Kid-approved, adult-loved, nostalgia-loaded
Orange Creamsicle Milkshake Recipe
Talk about sunshine in a glass!! Imagine your favorite childhood treat transformed into a creamy, dreamy orange cream shake.
And these always disappear in my house. Disappear. I’ll make them “for the kids” and somehow end up with an empty glass and whipped cream on my nose. Every time.
They’re cold. They’re creamy. They taste like riding bikes until the streetlights came on.
And I love that they don’t require ice cream or a million ingredients. Just a blender, frozen juice cubes, and boom. Summer magic.
If you hear the blender and don’t move fast, you will miss out. Ask me how I know…
ORANGE CREAMSICLE RECIPE VIDEO
Want to see how easy this comes together? Watch our quick recipe video 👇
If you love this orange creamsicle drink, try my mandarin cheesecake salad next. All that Creamsicle magic in a fluffy dessert!
And I’ve also got a delicious rice pudding recipe that’s a great way to use up the leftover creamer from this one.
Having a party? Check out these scrumptious boozy Creamsicle Jello shots, or a sweet cocktail that puts a raspberry-orange twist on your childhood push pops.
INGREDIENT NOTES
- Frozen Orange Juice Cubes: These replace ice and flavor… key for thick texture without watering it down.
Stick with store-bought for this orange creamsicle milkshake recipe. You’ll get a more consistent flavor, and you’re guaranteed to have the right amount! - Vanilla Coffee Creamer: Adds fat, sweetness, and vanilla all in one pour.
I use International Delight French Vanilla creamer (the liquid kind from the refrigerated section), but any brand will work… even dairy-free ones! - Whipped Cream: Optional, but also… not optional. It adds richness and visual fun. A spray can or a tub of Cool Whip will work, or whip up a quick batch from scratch.
- Orange Slices: Totally decorative, but they make it feel fancy and intentional.
VARIATIONS
Fruit Swap: Switch the OJ with pineapple or mango juice. A tropical blend would be yummy too!
Berries & Cream: Use frozen strawberries instead of orange juice ice cubes.
Creamer Flavor: Try a Sweet & Creamy version or seasonal options like Sugar Cookie.
Bright Color Boost: Add 2 or 3 drops of orange food coloring before blending.
Float Style: Pour over a splash of lemon-lime soda for a creamsicle float vibe.
Make It Boozy: Add 1 ounce of vanilla or whipped cream-flavored vodka to the blender.
Dairy-Free: Use dairy-free vanilla creamer and coconut whipped topping.
Creamsicle Orange Popsicles: Pour the blended mixture into ice pop molds (skip the whipped cream) and freeze until solid.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS
- Top each orange milkshake with fresh fruit slices and extra whipped cream.
- Add some sparkle with sanding sugar or celebrate a birthday with colorful sprinkles.
- Serve with a maraschino cherry and paper straws for a true diner experience.
- Pair creamsicle orange shakes with fudgy orange brownies or crisp pizzelle cookies.
CREAMSICLE ORANGE FAQ
You can pour in the OJ as a liquid and use 2 cups of regular ice cubes instead. Just know that the overall flavor won’t be as punchy, and the consistency will be a bit thin.
Make a quick substitute by combining 1 cup half-and-half with ¼ cup powdered sugar and 1 tablespoon of vanilla. Whisk until the sugar is dissolved.
Please don’t! Layering it in the glass is what creates the Dreamsicle flavor. And if you blend it in, the texture will be off.
Add 2-4 tablespoons of creamer or milk (not juice) and blend again.
This orange creamsicle milkshake recipe works because it respects frozen science. Those frozen orange juice cubes aren’t just cold… they’re loaded with sugar and citrus solids.
Sugar lowers the freezing point, which means when they blend, they don’t shatter into sharp ice crystals. Instead, they break down into a smooth, creamy micro-slush that feels like ice cream.
The creamer brings fat and emulsifiers into the mix, which coat those tiny ice particles and keep them from clumping back together. That’s why the shake stays thick and velvety instead of icy and crunchy.
Blend hard, serve fast, and enjoy that perfect window where everything is cold, stable, and ridiculously smooth.
DONNA’S PRO TIPS
- Freeze juice in standard ice cube trays for even blending.
- Blend longer than you think. You want zero visible ice.
- Scrape down the blender sides for uniform texture.
- Chill your glasses for extra-cold shakes.
- Serve immediately before the emulsion loosens.
- Layering with whipped cream helps keep the shake cold longer.
TOOLS NEEDED
- Ice Cube Tray: For freezing the orange juice.
- High-Powered Blender: You need serious blending to break down frozen cubes smoothly.
- Tamper or Spatula: Helps move stubborn frozen bits toward the blades.
- Measuring Cup: Keeps the balance right between creamy and icy.
- 8-Ounce Glasses: Perfect size for a thick orange milkshake.
- Spoon: For swirling layers and sneaking tastes.
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
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TL;DR (Too Long, Didn’t Read) THE QUICK VERSION
- Frozen orange juice cubes replace ice and ice cream
- Sugar keeps the texture creamy, not crunchy
- Creamer adds fat, sweetness, and vanilla flavor
- Blend hard for smooth micro-slush texture
- Serve immediately for best consistency
- Not a make-ahead recipe
- Popsicle leftovers are a win
- Five-minute nostalgia dessert
Orange Creamsicle Milkshake Recipe + Video
Ingredients
- 1 cup International Delight French Vanilla Creamer, liquid
- 2 cups frozen orange juice cubes, made from store bought orange juice
- Whipped cream, homemade or store bought
- Fresh orange slices, optional
Instructions
- BLEND: Add 1 cup International Delight French Vanilla Creamer and 2 cups frozen orange juice cubes to a high-powered blender. Blend on high, using the tamper or stopping to scrape down the sides, until smooth, thick, and milkshake-like. If needed, add 2 to 4 tablespoons additional creamer or milk to thin slightly.
- LAYER: Pour about 3 ounces of the milkshake into the bottom of an 8-ounce glass. Add a dollop of whipped cream. Pour in another 3 ounces of milkshake, add another dollop of whipped cream, then gently swirl with a spoon.
- FINISH: Top with the remaining milkshake, another dollop of whipped cream, and a fresh orange slice if using. Repeat with remaining glasses.
- SERVE: Serve immediately while cold and creamy.
Video
Donna’s Notes
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published March 2015, updated and republished December 2025
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Welcome!
We’re Donna and Chad, the dream team behind The Slow Roasted Italian. Our focus is on taking complicated OUT of the kitchen. Life is busy enough, making meals should be fast and easy, to help make your life as simple as possible. Read More >>
Donna – this really speaks to me – I always loved dreamsicles! How do I keep myself in check? I don't think I have perfected this but will add that exercise seems to make all the difference for me. More water, more exercise and limited breads and treats helps – which is perfectly unfortunate!
Did you know you can still buy Dreamsicles?
My husband loves creamsicles. I think he will enjoy this.
How do I keep myself in check? Make sure I'm in bed early to get a good nights sleep and pray. Together it helps me be "good mommy" rather than "mean mommy".
I want one of these right now! This looks so good!
Omg! Love it… Very close to something I had at one of my favourite restaurants back home. Thanks for the recipe though could the creamer be substituted by anything else? Thanks 😃
Creamsicles were in my Top 3 growing up! I make the full fat version in a smoothie in the summertime with Hagaan Daas vanilla bean ice cream with orange crush soda. I know, I know…lol.
I can't wait to try this one out! I obviously haven't been keeping myself in check with calories but I've finally jumped on the bandwagon a few months ago and am feverishly pinning healther versions of my favorite foods to keep the fat and sugar down with the goal of cutting sugar out altogether. Thank you for making it easier for me to find the options to do just that!!
Where did you find Fat Free & Sugar Free in the same bottle?
This looked so good until I read the ingredients! A CUP OF CREAMER??? No WAY I am giving that to my children! We make our orange creamsicle shakes with orange cream Yoplait yogurt, frozen orange slices and orange juice.
that's for 4 servings.
That sounds much better!
recipe called for fat free and sugar free creamer.
I make these for a treat in the evening for my husband and myself and they are wonderful and the and children love them too
Can I use cool whip or does it have to be whipped cream?
A much simpler and healthier way to make one is equal parts OJ and fat free yogurt (plain or vanilla). So let's say 1/2 cup of each, a dash of vanilla, a splash of maple syrup, and 3-4 ice cubes. Put all in a blender on high for about 10 seconds, and low for about 20 seconds.. DELICIOUS !!! Play with the amount of vanilla & maple syrup according to your taste, and also the number of ice cubes. You don't want too many so it's too watery.
A much healthier version is equal parts OJ and fat free yogurt (plain of vanilla). So let's say 1 cup of each, a splash of maple syrup, a dash of vanilla extract, and 4-5 ice cubes. put all in a blender on high for about 10 seconds, then low for about 15-20 seconds (you don't want it to turn too watery) DELICIOUS !!! The amount of maple syrup and vanilla is to your taste.
As a pleasure as orange flavored vodka.
I HAVE A RECIPE FOR ORANGE JULIUS:1C.ORANGE JUICE,1C.VANILLA ICE CREAM3/4TSP.VANILLA EXTRACT,1/4C.SUGAR 1 HEAPING CUP ICE COMBINE ALL IN BLENDER & BLEND.MAKES 2 SERVINGS.IT CALLED FOR 2 EGGS BUT THE ICE CREAM HAS EGGS IN IT & TO ME IT TASTED LIKE THE REAL ORIGINAL ORANGE JULIOUS MY FAVORITE.I ALSO TAKE 1 SCOOP OF SLIM FAST ADD THIS TO THE BLENDER THEN ADD 2 TABLESPOONS OF COOL WHIP,1C.OF WATER & I ADD ORANGE WATER ENHANCER THEY EVEN HAVE NOW ORANGE VANILLA WATER ENHANCER.I LOVE WATER ENHANCERS I MAKE ICING FROM THEM WITH POWDERED SUGAR & A FEW TABLESPOONS OF BUTTER & I ADD IT TO MY CAKES,COOKIES & CUPCAKE RECIPES.NOT TOO MUCH JUST A FEW SQUIRTS.ALSO ITS REALLY SWEET SO I CUT DOWN ON THE SUGAR.I ADD 1/4C.SUGAR THE REST OF INGREDIENTS TASTE THE BATTER W/O EGGS B4 ADDING THE WATER ENHANCERS FLAVORING.
This brings back memories of orange cream pops when I was a kid. This was so much better than that ever was!
Now you just need to get rid of the silly jars, and go back to using REAL glasses
Wow, this Orange Milkshake is absolutely amazing! It’s a breeze to make and tastes like pure nostalgia.
Hi Myla!
We’re so glad you enjoyed the recipe!
TSRI Team Member,
Devlyn