Ninja Creami Orange Julius

Hey there! Do you remember those trips to the mall as a kid? For me, the whole point was begging my parents for that one special treat: an Orange Julius. It was that bright, frothy, creamy drink that just tasted like pure sunshine. It wasn’t quite a smoothie and not exactly a milkshake. It was just… perfect.

I’ve been chasing that taste for years, and I wanted to do more than just copy it. I wanted to turn that nostalgic drink into a real, scoopable ice cream. A dessert you can dig into with a spoon.

And I finally figured it out. The secret weapon? My Ninja Creami.

We’re about to take a few simple ingredients and turn them into something incredible. This recipe is more than just a copycat; it’s a spoonful of happy memories. Let’s get started!

Here’s What to Expect

Before we jump in, let’s go over the game plan.

This recipe is super easy. Seriously. The prep work is about 5 minutes of mixing. The hardest part is being patient. You have to let the base freeze for a full 24 hours. This is the non-negotiable step that lets the Creami do its thing.

After that, the machine takes over for about 5-10 minutes. So, while the total time is about a day, you’re only actively doing something for a few minutes.

This recipe makes one Ninja Creami pint, which is about two servings. Perfect for sharing… or not! If you want to make more, you can easily prep a few pints at once.

I’d call this a beginner level recipe. If you can stir, you’ve got this.

What You’ll Need

You don’t need a ton of fancy gear. Just a few key things:

• The Star Player: A Ninja Creami machine, of course!
• The Container: At least one Ninja Creami pint with its lid.
• A Mixer: A simple fork or whisk works fine. But my secret tip? Use a milk frother. It gets the base perfectly smooth in just a few seconds.

Making More Than One?

Want to stock your freezer? It’s easy to prep multiple pints. Just follow this simple chart.

Pints to Make	Orange Juice	Whole Milk	Vanilla Extract	Vanilla Pudding Mix
1 Pint (2 Servings)	1 cup	½ cup	½ tsp	1 tbsp
2 Pints (4 Servings)	2 cups	1 cup	1 tsp	2 tbsp
3 Pints (6 Servings)	3 cups	1 ½ cups	1 ½ tsp	3 tbsp

The Ingredients (And Why They Matter)

Great ice cream starts with good ingredients. Here’s what we’re using and why.

Orange Juice (1 cup): This is our main flavor. For the best result, use a good quality, no-pulp orange juice. No pulp means the final ice cream will be silky smooth, with no weird bits. If you only have juice with pulp, it’ll still work, but the texture won’t be quite as dreamy.

Whole Milk (½ cup): Creaminess comes from fat. The fat in whole milk is key to getting that rich taste and preventing it from becoming an icy mess. To make it even richer, you could swap some of the milk for heavy cream. For a dairy-free version, full-fat oat milk or canned coconut milk are fantastic substitutes.

Vanilla Extract (½ teaspoon): This is the backup singer that makes the star shine. A little bit of pure vanilla extract makes the orange flavor really pop. It adds a warmth and depth that you just can’t get from the imitation stuff.

Vanilla Instant Pudding Mix (1 tablespoon): And now for the secret ingredient. This is the trick to getting that thick, scoop-shop texture. The pudding mix helps stabilize the ice cream, so it stays smooth and creamy instead of getting icy. It works like magic. Both regular and sugar-free versions work great!

Want to add a protein boost?

A lot of people love making a Protein Orange Julius Ice Cream. It’s super simple. Just add a scoop of your favorite vanilla protein powder when you mix the base. A whey/casein blend usually gives the creamiest result, but any kind you like will work. Just make sure to mix it really, really well so it’s not grainy.

Step-by-Step: Let’s Do This!

Okay, grab your pint. Let’s make some ice cream.

Step 1: Mix the Base

First things first, let’s combine everything. Pour the orange juice, whole milk, vanilla extract, and that all-important instant pudding mix right into the Ninja Creami pint.

Now, mix it up! If you’re using a fork or whisk, stir like you mean it for about a minute. You want to make sure the pudding mix is totally dissolved. No clumps allowed! The liquid should look like a pale creamsicle color.

My favorite way to do this? A milk frother. It zaps everything together in seconds, leaving you with a perfectly blended, slightly frothy base.

Step 2: The 24-Hour Freeze

Put the lid on your pint and screw it on tight. Now for the most important step: the freeze.

Find a flat, level spot in your freezer and place the pint there. If it freezes at an angle, it can mess with the machine later. Let it freeze for a full 24 hours. I know, it’s hard to wait! But this step is what allows the Creami to shave the frozen block into a super creamy texture. Don’t pull it out early, or you’ll get a soupy slush.

Step 3: The First Spin

Time for the fun part! Take the pint out of the freezer. It will be a hard, solid block of orange ice. That’s exactly what you want.

Place the pint into the outer bowl, click the processing lid on top, and lock it into your Ninja Creami. Press the ‘Lite Ice-Cream’ button and let it do its thing.

When it’s done, take a look. It will probably look dry, powdery, or crumbly. This is totally normal! Don’t panic. It means you did everything right.

Step 4: The Re-Spin for Creaminess

This is where the real magic happens. Take a spoon and dig a small hole, about an inch wide, in the center of the powdery mix. Pour about a tablespoon of extra milk into that little well.

Now, put it all back in the machine and press the ‘Re-Spin’ button.

Listen to the machine. You’ll hear the sound change as it works. When the cycle is finished, open the lid. That powdery stuff will be gone, replaced by thick, smooth, and perfectly creamy Orange Julius ice cream. It should have a soft-serve texture. You can eat it right away!

Make It Your Own

The best part about this recipe is that you can change it up. Think of it as your starting point.

• Go Dairy-Free: As I mentioned, full-fat oat milk or canned coconut milk work great. Just make sure your pudding mix is also dairy-free.
• Add a Tropical Twist: Mix in a tablespoon of pineapple juice for a new flavor.
• Make it Zippier: Add a teaspoon of fresh orange zest to the base mixture for an even brighter orange taste.
• Try Mix-Ins: After the re-spin, use the ‘Mix-In’ function to add things like white chocolate chips, crushed vanilla wafers, or a swirl of marshmallow fluff.

Serving and Storing

This ice cream is best right after it’s made, when it’s soft and creamy. Scoop it into a chilled bowl to keep it from melting too fast. Or, for the full nostalgic experience, serve it in a tall glass with a straw and a spoon.

Got leftovers? It’s rare, but it happens! Just smooth the top of the ice cream in the pint, put the lid back on, and stick it back in the freezer.

When you’re ready for more, the ice cream will be frozen solid again. No problem. Just pop it back in the Ninja Creami and run it on the ‘Lite Ice-Cream’ cycle again. It’ll come out just as creamy and delicious as the first time.

Enjoy your trip down memory lane!

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