Have you ever had an Orange Julius? Well, this Orange Creamsicle Protein Smoothie Recipe tastes exactly like an Orange Julius. And it has those delicious creamy orange and vanilla cream vibes you expect with an orange creamsicle, but it’s healthy and contains 21g of protein!

Orange Creamsicle Protein Smoothie Recipe

It’s hard to find an orange creamsicle smoothie without yogurt, so I created one of my own! Here’s a little background on the origin of this particular smoothie. Growing up, whenever I would go to the mall with my dad, we would get a bag of warm cashews and an Orange Julius. Then they became hard to find, so I tried over and over again for many many years to create the perfect Orange Julius copycat recipe. My youngest sister and I came very close a few times, but our creation was loaded with sugar and not something I wanted to indulge in day in and day out. So it was reserved for rare occasions when I had a craving. But now, I can drink one every day if I want to and know that it’s contributing to my overall health instead of taking away from it! And I just have to share this delicious Orange Creamsicle Smoothie with all of you!

Orange and vanilla together is one of the best flavor combinations out there. It’s like the refreshing fruity version of chocolate and peanut butter!

This Orange Creamsicle Smoothie is made with 6 simple ingredients that are healthy! But there are other ways to make it as well, so I’m going to give you a couple of different options based on the type of protein powders you have on hand.

Orange Creamsicle Protein Smoothie Ingredients:

Orange juice – or you can add 3 peeled clementines in place of the orange juice to give this smoothie its signature orange flavor. Freshly-squeezed orange juice tastes best, but it’s a lot of work and the bottled stuff with pulp tastes great
Unsweetened almond milk OR lite coconut milk – or milk of your choice
Frozen cauliflower rice OR ice cubes – you can’t taste the cauliflower in this recipe and it adds nutrients. It’s my favorite way to get my kids to eat enough veggies!
Vanilla extract – or you can add in a scoop of your favorite vanilla protein powder.Nz That warm vanilla flavor mixed with the bright citrus are fantastic!
Maple Syrup – just to add a little sweetness. I omit the syrup when I use vanilla protein powder because it adds enough sweetness
Collagen peptides – adds some protein and is great for your hair, skin, nails, and joints
Metamucil – completely optional but adds extra fiber and orange flavor

When I make this Orange Creamsicle Smoothie for my kiddo, I leave out the peptides, and use the cauliflower rice instead of ice cubes. It’s a great way to get him to “eat” veggies because he doesn’t even realize I’ve snuck them in. He just thinks I’ve made him an orange milkshake, so I roll with that!

For this version of the Orange Creamsicle Smoothie, the vanilla protein powder replaces the maple syrup, vanilla extract, and collagen peptides. So if you have some vanilla protein powder on hand, give it a try in this recipe!

?Optional add-ins:

Cottage cheese makes a great base for this recipe and adds additional grams of protein. I usually add 1/3 cup and omit the cauliflower rice when using cottage cheese. It also makes for a more creamy consistency

Greek yogurt is another great base that adds plenty of protein and a creamy texture

MCT oil adds healthy fats without altering the flavor

Orange zest: it looks pretty sprinkled on top and adds a brightness to the smoothie

How to make this Orange Creamsicle Smoothie:

Add all ingredients to a high-powered blender or food processor and blend until smooth!
Drink up!

If you make this smoothie and love it as much as I do, please let me know! I absolutely love getting feedback about my recipes, especially ones I’ve worked 20 years to perfect!

A few of my other favorite smoothie recipes:

Pina Colada Smoothie

Low Carb Key Lime Pie Smoothie

Thin Mint Smoothie

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