I tend to be a bit lazy on Sunday afternoons, so rather than cook a big supper, my husband and I usually opt for popcorn and smoothies. (Hey, it’s ok for real foodies to take a break once and a while too!) š
I especially love it when we have an abundance of raw goat or cowĀ milk, since it gives me lots of chances to experiment! I love a good milkshake, but rarely have ice cream just hanging around.
So,Ā I’veĀ learned to beĀ creative and have come up with a method of making thick, creamy shakes that are ice-cream-free.
I feel pretty good about serving these to my family- it’s a great way to drink your raw milk and they only have a minimal amount of sweetener.
This is my newest concoction- refreshing, smooth, and creamy, I can’t wait to enjoy these out on our deck this summer!
Orange Creamsicle Milkshakes
- 1 large, ripe orange, well peeled.
- 1 1/2 cups of ice cubes
- 1/2 cup raw milk (or whole, store bought milk, if that is all you have)
- 2 t. real vanilla extract
- 3 T. real maple syrup (I love this real maple syrup)
- 4-5 drops of stevia (optional)
- Orange extract (optional- but you can add several drops if you are looking for a more intense orange flavor)
Place your well peeled orange in your blender and blend very thoroughly.
Add the remaining ingredients and blend again.
Serve immediately, with a straw if desired.
(Wanna know the secret to super thick, creamy shakes at home? Blend, blend, and then blend some more. Keep blending, even if you are sure that all the ice bits are gone. Trust me, it makes a big difference!)
You may have to adjust the amount of sweetener to your family’s tastes. As written, it is not overwhelmingly sweet, but pleasantly refreshing.
The stevia could be omitted altogether, or more/less syrup could be added. This can also be made with raw honey, although it changes the taste of the final result just a bit.
What a perfect summer treat! If oranges aren’t available or in season, try substituting orange juice concentrate instead.
This recipe makes 2 servings. It can easily be doubled, if your blender is big enough!
PrintOrange Creamsicle Milkshake (without the Ice Cream!)
Ingredients
- 1 large orange, peeled
- 1 1/2 cups of ice cubes
- 1/2 cup milk
- 2 t. vanilla extract
- 3 T. maple syrup (I love this real maple syrup)
- 4–5 drops of stevia (optional)
- Orange extract (optional- but you can add several drops if you are looking for a more intense orange flavor)
Instructions
- Place orange in blender and blend very thoroughly
- Add the remaining ingredients and Re-blend
- Serve immediately!
Thirsty for more real food shakes? Check out Pumpkin Pie in a Glass and our favoriteĀ Peppermint Milkshake. Both are minus the ice cream!
mmmm, this sounds so yummy and refreshing. š thanks for the idea!
Great tip for frothy milkshakes! I have a VitaMix so blending is the easy part š
Wish I had a VitaMix! It’s definitely on my wish list. š
Mmmm… That really sounds good! I’ve always loved creamsicles! I will definitely have to try this!
Thanks so much for the recipe…its now a favorite at our house (next time we have pancakes we might be disappointed in the little maple syrup that remains after making so many of these, lol)! The taste reminds me of my childhood when my mom & I would get to indulge in the rare treat of an Orange Julius.
So glad that your family is enjoying the recipe Ginger! š
I just made this… and it tasted sweet but was severely lacking in orange flavor. (And the oranges that I bought were really, really yummy!) So… I recommend adding a bit of orange concentrate. I didn’t have any this time, but next time I will try it.
Yes, it isn’t quite as orange-y as the orange julius recipe I used to make with concentrate. But, I was trying to keep the ingredients raw and fresh, which is why I didn’t add any to this recipe.
But of course, you definitely could add some concentrate in there if you are looking for more orange flavor. Or, even try some orange extract!
I made this tonight for my kids and they loved it! (So did I) They asked me if we could have it for a snack everyday! Thanks for the great recipe.
Yay! You know when the kids approve it, it’s got to be good. ha!
Only 1/2 cup of milk for two servings? I use nearly a full qt when making any kind of smoothie (what we call them when there’s no ice cream) to serve 3. How does it get creamy with so little milk?
I must have a small blender, because if I were to add a quart of milk, plus the ice and orange, it would be seriously overflowing before I even started blending. Feel free to experiment and adjust to your family’s tastes!
I never thought of the possibility of a small blender. Mine is 56 oz and when the old one needed replacing it was a challenge to find another 7 cup one made of glass. I also have orange extract that smells heavenly that I want to add to this.
Yes- the orange extract would be a great addition!!
As soon as I rec’d my orange extract from Azure I whipped this up in my Ninja. Soooooo good. Whole family loved it. Taste just like orange julius. I added a little bit of the zest from the orange too. Yummy! Will add this to my favorite recipes. Thank you. Cant wait to try peppermint next.
Yum Tammy! š
Jil, This recipe sounds so yummy! I have to make it soon! Thanks for sharing.
I just discovered your website and I have been reading and exploring for the a couple hours. I have a friend that has goats for milking. Someone suggested a goat as a pet and milk for my family.
I don’t drink milk. I lost my taste for it from becoming more and more lactose intolerant with each pregnancy. Even though I don’t drink it, I still use it in my cereal and other foods. I have a very simple drink that allows me to drink milk. I fill my cup half full with milk and half with orange juice. It thickens up immediately and tastes great! So easy!
I’m hoping I will find some ways on your blog that my family can and will do to become more self-relient. I’m checking the zoning for my house.
Thank you for sharing!
Glad you found me Sheri! I like your orange/milk idea. It sort of sounds like my Orange Julius recipe- yum!
I added five alive orange juixe and milk together and the milk went all chunky ?????
Hmmmm… I’ve never had that happen! Sounds like the acid from the OJ curdled it. š
This is delicious! It really does taste the way I remember Orange Julius drinks! And so easy, with simple ingredients…
Thanks!
Yahoo! Glad you are enjoying it Angela!
Yum! Only I had to make slight alterations. I bought oranges, but when I peeled them…they had turned into red grapefruits. š Also, because I didn’t have maple syrup, used Xylitol. OMG…it was delicious! Just a hint of tang from the grapefruit combined with the sweet and creamy and my 10-year-old son and I were in heaven. š Thank-you!
Oh. My. Goodness. I adore grapefruit– I gotta try it!
Hi Jill,
Writing this, I am still in a state of food euphoria. Thank you for your recipe, it’s the best milkshake I have ever had! š
And my compliments for your beautiful and original website, I love to browse through your articles!
Saskia
Wahoo! So glad you enjoyed it Saskia!