Orange Smoothie

This Easy Orange Smoothie is creamy and refreshing! It’s packed with nutrients and citrus flavors… and tastes like an Orange Julius.

Do you like the lemony taste of oranges? let’s make one Orange smoothie! Oranges are often overlooked in smoothie recipes. But they do have a nice citrus flavor and lots of vitamin C. This orange smoothie is creamy and tangy, with just the right amount of sweetness. When Alex and I served it to a friend, she immediately exclaimed, “It tastes like Orange Julius! This nostalgic atmosphere of the 1990s also prevails in the mall. That’s how it’s done!

Use of oranges in smoothies

Here’s the thing about oranges in smoothies. Oranges are almost all liquid! They’re not like most fruits which, when blended together, add fiber and body to the smoothie. Turn on this blender and the oranges will instantly liquefy and take on a watery texture. If you’re making a smoothie on the fly, know that adding an orange is more like adding water than anything else.

To balance all the liquid in an orange, add a batch of ice. This helps create a fluffy texture. It’s also important to have other fruits like a banana to add body. Let’s talk ingredients, shall we?

Ingredients of this orange smoothie

Now that you know the top secrets of oranges in smoothies, here are the secrets of this orange smoothie! Mixing these ingredients together gives the best frothy texture and orange flavor:

• oranges: Oranges at room temperature, that’s all you need! More…
• Orange peel: That brings just the right orange taste! Without it, the smoothie tastes mild and slightly sweet… but not like an orange!
• Greek yogurt: Yogurt gives a creamy texture and full of protein! It also contains probiotics that contribute to gut health. (See more yogurt smoothies.)
• Banana: The banana contributes a creamy texture and adds the final sweetness.
• Ice: You need some ice for this smoothie! We used 2 ½ cups, but you can adjust the amount depending on the size of your orange and your blender.
• Maple Syrup or Honey: You can prepare this orange smoothie without sweeteners. We liked it with just 1 tbsp to boost the sweet flavor a bit.

boost protein

Want to add even more protein to this orange smoothie? Here are a few ideas:

• Best option: more Greek yogurt! The yogurt adds a little protein. Double the amount of yogurt and use ½ cup instead of ¼ cup.
• Add the cashew butter. This orange smoothie is not a natural candidate for adding nut butter. However, we think cashew butter would work! The mild flavor of cashew butter pairs well with tropical flavors. Use 1 tbsp: this changes the flavor a bit.
• Protein powder: Add protein powder if you like that kind of thing! We prefer natural protein options.

Variant: make it vegan

To make this orange smoothie vegan, here are a few suggestions:

• Replace the vegan yogurt brand that you enjoy. Depending on the brand, it may also add some protein.
• Forget Greek yogurt altogether.
• Replace Greek yogurt with ½ banana. This helps balance out some of the creamy texture.

More flavor variations!

Want to change up your orange smoothie? Here are some additional flavor ideas:

• Pineapple: Add a more tropical touch! Add 1 cup frozen pineapple instead of 1 cup ice: This also makes a thicker smoothie.
• Mango: Same idea! Use 1 cup of frozen mango instead of 1 cup of ice for an even fruitier flavor.
• Coconut. Add a handful of coconut (or toasted coconut) to the mixture.
• Vanilla. Use 1 teaspoon vanilla to make it taste like an orange milkshake.

Save orange smoothies

This smoothie is best consumed immediately. You can keep this orange smoothie in the fridge for about 1 day. Store in an airtight container or mason jar with a lid. It may separate, which is perfectly normal! Shake it and you’re good to go.

This orange smoothie recipe is…

Vegetarian and gluten free. For vegan, plant-based and dairy-free, see variations above.

More smoothie recipes

Want more healthy smoothie recipes? There are so many to try including green, yogurt based and more:

• Berry: Strawberry, Raspberry, Mixed Berry, Fruit, Blueberry, Strawberry Banana, Strawberry Mango, Berry Almond Milk, Strawberry Blueberry, or Blueberry Banana Smoothie Cake and bursting with sweet fruit flavors!
• Greens and Vegetables: Cabbage, Celery, Carrot, Avocado, Vegetable, Beet, Broccoli, or Spinach Smoothie You’ll forget you’re eating all those healthy ingredients. (Go to veggie smoothies.)
• Creamy: Yogurt, Vanilla Protein, Chia Seed, Chocolate, Banana or Peanut Butter Smoothie Slightly creamy and full of flavor.
• Fruit: Banana, Apple, Acai Berry, Peach, Watermelon, Pineapple Mango, Banana Mango or Pineapple Smoothie Juicy and slightly sweet: perfectly refreshing.