Fruit Recipes – FoodWatcher

Blueberry Coffee Cake

A deliciously tender Blueberry Coffee Cake with hints of cinnamon, lemon and a crunchy oat crumble topping.

Orange Julius

This perfect Orange Julius recipe is refreshing, easy-to-make, and packed with creamy citrus flavor for a quick summer treat or healthy snack.

The post Orange Julius appeared first on Budget Bytes.

I know it’s still spring, but the days are getting warmer, the sun is starting to shine, and I am ready for summer and all of its cold, fruity drinks. And let me tell you, this Orange Julius is going to be the drink of the summer for me. It only takes a few minutes to whip up this super easy Orange Julius recipe and is the perfect cold and creamy treat to make me feel like I’m vacationing somewhere in the tropics (a girl’s gotta dream). Not to mention, there are so many ways you can vary this Orange Julius recipe to make it more dessert-like, more healthy like a breakfast smoothie, or even turn it into an afternoon cocktail, so I’m truly going to be sipping this one all. summer. long. Don’t miss my variation suggestions below!

overhead view of two glasses full of orange juilius with straws and orange slices.

What is An Orange Julius?

Orange Julius is a refreshing and creamy orange drink made with orange juice, milk, sugar, vanilla, and egg whites which create a super frothy texture. The drink was invented by Julius Freed at his Los Angeles juice stand in 1926 and has been a summertime favorite ever since. The drink grew in popularity over the years and was even deemed the official drink of the 1964 World’s Fair Exposition. In the decades since it has become a staple in shopping malls and on Dairy Queen’s menu. Today’s it’s usually made without egg white, but it’s still just as dreamy and creamy as ever. And the best part? You don’t have to shell out $6 per Julius at an ice cream stand because these deliciously creamy citrus drinks are so easy to make at home!

You’ll only need four simple ingredients to make a homemade Orange Julius (plus ice). Here’s what you’ll need for this recipe:

Frozen Orange Juice Concentrate: This is the secret ingredient for making a super citrusy Orange Julius without it getting too watery. The orange juice concentrate adds a ton of sweet-tart orange flavor while allowing the smoothie to stay thick and frothy.
Milk: Whole milk is added to balance the acidity in the orange juice and give the Orange Julius its characteristic creamy flavor. While you can use a lower fat milk, it will affect the creaminess of the drink. Whole milk is recommended.
Sugar: A little bit of sugar helps balance the acidity and bitterness in the orange juice concentrate so the Julius has a deliciously sweet and smooth finish.
Vanilla: Vanilla adds to the creamy flavor profile and gives the drink an orange creamsicle-like flavor.
Ice: Ice makes the Orange Julius super cold and helps create a deliciously thick and frothy texture. You can increase or decrease the ice to make the smoothie your desired texture.

Can You Make Orange Julius with Orange Juice?

The recipe below uses frozen orange juice concentrate to deliver a really strong orange flavor while keeping the smoothie thick and rich. You can substitute about 2 cups of fresh orange juice in place of the orange juice concentrate, but it will make the Julius much less thick and the flavor will not be as bold. For the richest, boldest flavor, definitely buy orange juice concentrate. The remainder of the can can be easily stored in your freezer for your next Orange Julius, so it’s worth purchasing!

Orange Julius Variations

I love a simple classic Orange Julius, but there are so many fun ways you can change the recipe to make it your own. Here are some other ingredients you can add to an Orange Julius for variety:

Fruity Flavors: Try adding banana, mango, or pineapple for a tropical twist, or strawberries for a summery flavor.
Vegan Orange Julius: Make it vegan by replacing the whole milk with canned light coconut milk (not the kind in a carton that is intended as a milk substitute).
Protein Julius: Turn it into a protein smoothie by adding vanilla Greek yogurt or your favorite vanilla protein powder.
Green Julius: Add a handful or two of baby spinach to make a creamy, citrusy, green smoothie.
Boozy Orange Julius: Add vodka or rum to make a fun “adult” Orange Julius.

Orange Julius

This perfect Orange Julius recipe is refreshing, easy to-make, and packed with creamy citrus flavor for a quick summer treat or healthy snack.

Course Beverage, Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine American

Total Cost $1.87 recipe / $0.94 serving

Prep Time 5

Total Time 5

Servings (12oz. each)

Calories 253kcal

Author Beth – Budget Bytes

Equipment

Large Blender

Ingredients

1/2 cup frozen orange juice concentrate $1.16
1 cup whole milk $0.20
1 tsp vanilla extract $0.45
3 Tbsp granulated sugar $0.06
1 cup ice $0.00

Instructions

Place all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth and frothy.
If your Orange Julius is not thick enough, add more ice. If the Julius is too thick, add a little water or milk and blend again until you reach the desired consistency. Serve immediately and enjoy!

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Nutrition

How to Make An Orange Julius – Step by Step Photos

Add ½ cup frozen orange juice concentrate, 1 cup whole milk, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 3 Tbsp granulated sugar, and 1 cup ice to a blender.

Blended Orange Julius in a blender from above.

Blend everything together until it is smooth and frothy. Adjust the consistency of your Orange Julius by adding more ice to make it thicker or adding a little water or milk to thin it out.

Orange Julius being poured from the blender into a glass.

Pour the homemade Orange Julius into a large glass and enjoy immediately!

Side view of an Orange Julius in a glass with a striped straw and orange slices.

The post Orange Julius appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Acai Bowl

Here is a probiotic-rich Acai Bowl recipe that is quick to whip up, customizable, full of healing polyphenols, and ready in 5 minutes! Vegan and gluten-free.

Here is a probiotic-rich Acai Bowl recipe that is quick to whip up, customizable, full of healing polyphenols, and ready in 5 minutes! Vegan and gluten-free.

Apple Cranberry Baked Oatmeal

This Cranberry Apple Baked Oatmeal recipe is an easy, warm, and comforting breakfast that is perfect for fall and winter meal prep.

The post Apple Cranberry Baked Oatmeal appeared first on Budget Bytes.

I have an intense love for cranberries, but you can usually only find them in the supermarket for a few months out of the year. So this year, I bought a couple extra bags and tossed them in the freezer so I could enjoy them for months after the season had ended. Well, that day is today and I used some of my cranberry stash to make this delicious Apple Cranberry Baked Oatmeal. And if you didn’t happen to stash any cranberries last fall, you can sometimes find them in the freezer section year-round. Baked oatmeal is one of my favorite breakfast meal preps because it’s SO easy to make and the leftovers are great. Plus, it’s freezer-friendly!

Close up overhead view of a casserole dish full of cranberry apple baked oatmeal and a wooden spoon scooping some out.

What is Baked Oatmeal?

Baked oatmeal is a lot like bread pudding, but instead of chunks of hearty bread baked into the custard, it’s rolled oats. The end result is a soft, moist, scoopable oatmeal that is not at all gloopy like those instant oatmeal packets. It’s filling, rich, slightly sweet, and one of my absolute favorite ways to enjoy oats.

Baked oatmeal recipes are super simple by nature, and this apple cranberry version is no exception. Here’s all you’ll need to make this baked oatmeal recipe:

Applesauce: Unsweetened applesauce keeps the baked oatmeal soft and moist, adds a delicious apple flavor, and provides some natural sweetness to the baked oatmeal so you don’t have to add as much sugar.
Eggs: Eggs combine with the milk to create the custard that helps the baked oatmeal bake firm up into a scoopable texture instead of the thick porridge-like texture that you get with stovetop cooked oats.
Brown Sugar: A little extra sugar helps balance the tart flavor of the cranberries and makes the baked oats just sweet enough that you feel like you’re having a treat.
Vanilla: Vanilla extract helps the oats taste extra rich.
Cinnamon: A touch of cinnamon gives the baked oatmeal a warm and cozy flavor.
Salt: Salt helps all of the individual flavors of the oatmeal pop.
Baking Powder: A small amount of baking powder gives the baked oatmeal loft so it’s not quite so dense.
Milk: Milk softens the oats and combines with the egg to create a rich custard.
Cranberries: Cranberries give the baked oatmeal a deliciously sweet-tart flavor and gorgeous pink color. We used cranberries that had been previously frozen, but you can use fresh as well.
Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats: Oats are the main ingredient, the star of the show. Make sure to get old-fashioned rolled oats instead of quick oats because they have a lot more texture and will keep your baked oatmeal from being too mushy.

Is It Breakfast or Dessert?

Baked oatmeal can be served as either breakfast or dessert! It’s only slightly sweet, so it’s still a balanced breakfast, but it’s delicious enough that I’d happily eat it as a dessert or sweet treat. If you want to make it even more dessert-like, try topping it with a simple streusel before baking. Just combine ¼ cup flour, 2 Tbsp brown sugar, 2 Tbsp white sugar, and 3 Tbsp softened butter until it forms a crumbly mixture that resembles wet sand. Sprinkle that over the baked oatmeal before baking and it turns this baked oatmeal into a decadent dessert!

How to Serve Baked Oatmeal

People always ask if baked oatmeal is supposed to be served hot or cold, and the answer is that it can be enjoyed either way! I love it when it’s still warm out of the oven and topped off with a splash of cold milk. But when I’m eating the leftovers for meal prep, sometimes I eat it cold and sometimes I warm it in the microwave. It’s totally up to you!

Whether you enjoy it hot or cold, I love to add a little milk or half and half to my bowl, or even a scoop of Greek yogurt for extra protein. If you have any walnuts on hand, they would also make a great topper for this Apple Cranberry Baked Oatmeal flavor. Or, if you want it a little sweeter, try topping it with some maple syrup!

To store the leftovers of your baked oatmeal for meal prep, divide it into single portions and place them into air-tight food storage containers. They can be refrigerated for up to five days. Or, once cooled in the refrigerator, you can transfer them to the freezer for longer storage (about 3 months). To reheat frozen baked oatmeal either let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then microwave until hot, or reheat straight from the freezer using the microwave’s defrost function.

Overhead view of cranberry apple baked oatmeal in a bowl with a golden spoon.

Baked oatmeal being scooped out of the casserole dish with a wooden spoon.

Apple Cranberry Baked Oatmeal

This Apple Cranberry Baked Oatmeal recipe is an easy, warm, and comforting breakfast that is perfect for fall and winter meal prep.

Course Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine American

Total Cost $3.51 recipe / $0.59 serving

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 45

Total Time 1

Servings

Calories 220kcal

Author Beth – Budget Bytes