With the final season of Stranger Things coming up soon, I started thinking about some iconic 1980s foods I could recreate in the Test Kitchen. There were so many options—from school lunch staples to mall food court favorites—but then one stood out, loud and citrusy.
I saw a photo of Eleven and Hopper sitting in a mall food court… and right behind them? An Orange Julius stand.
I took that as a sign.
So I dusted off my blender, grabbed my retro snack goggles, and dove into some frothy citrus research.
A Quick (and Frothy) History of Orange Julius
Orange Julius started way back in 1926, when a man named Julius Freed opened a little orange juice stand in Los Angeles. But the juice was a bit too tart for everyday sipping—at least for Julius and his regulars.
Enter his friend Bill Hamlin, who did what any good snack innovator would do: he blended the orange juice with a little vanilla, some milk, ice, and a mystery combo of powdered egg whites that made it smoother, sweeter, and just weird enough to stick in your memory. The result? A creamy, frothy citrus drink that tasted like a melted creamsicle had dreams of becoming a milkshake.
Customers loved it. Word spread. And before long, people weren’t just ordering an orange juice—they were ordering an Orange Julius.
By the 1950s, it had become a full-on franchise. And by the 1980s, it was mall food court royalty, holding court alongside soft pretzels, pizza slices, and the occasional overstuffed baked potato. If you wandered around a shopping mall with a frothy cup in hand and brain freeze creeping in, chances are it was an Orange Julius.
In 1987, Dairy Queen bought the brand and added Julius drinks to their menu—though the recipe’s evolved a bit over the years. (Translation: fewer raw eggs, same nostalgia hit.)
It’s still around today, though a bit harder to find. But lucky for us, the original vibe can be recreated at home—with a blender, a few ingredients, and a strong will to resist drinking the whole batch straight from the pitcher.
The Recipe Hunt Begins
Before I could even plug in the blender, I had to do a little detective work. Turns out, recreating an Orange Julius at home is more controversial than expected.
Some recipes swear by orange juice concentrate. Others insist on fresh-squeezed oranges. Some call for raw eggs or powdered egg whites. There’s even debate over which sugar to use—powdered or granulated.
Apparently, everyone has their own take on what makes a real Orange Julius frothy, smooth, and just weird enough to be memorable.
After sifting through versions that ranged from smoothie-adjacent to “is this safe to drink?”, I landed on one that felt like a solid starting point—simple, creamy, and blissfully egg-free.
What Went In My Blender:
- Ice
- Milk (I used 2%)
- Frozen Orange Juice Concentrate
- Powdered Sugar
- Vanilla Extract
I followed the recipe from My Baking Addiction. You can check it out for the correct amounts.
Agents 001’s Test Kitchen Notes
Other than the frozen orange juice concentrate, I had everything on hand, which made this an easy after-dinner experiment.
After blending everything, I gave it a quick taste and added about a tablespoon more sugar to balance out the tartness. In hindsight, I might also bump up the vanilla next time—but that’s up to your personal preference.
The consistency was perfect—thick, frothy, and full of food court vibes. I even broke out a bendy straw for full nostalgia effect.
And because this is Snack Society, we added one final twist: vodka. This was actually Agent 003’s (my husband’s) idea, and now I’m curious what it would taste like with rum. Or coconut rum. Or… well, this mission might require follow-up testing.
Final Verdict
Mess Level: 2/5
The blender’s the only cleanup—but if you’ve ever cleaned pulp out of a blade, you know.
Effort Rating: 1/5
Dump, blend, sip, smile.
Nostalgia Factor: 5/5
Takes you straight back to the food court with Eleven, Hopper, and a brain freeze.
Snack Society Badge Earned: Mall Food Court MVP
This retro refresher transported us straight to the golden age of mall culture—where every food court had its crown jewel, and Orange Julius reigned supreme. Frothy, citrusy, and just weird enough to spark joy, this homemade version captures that classic creamsicle-meets-smoothie magic. Add a bendy straw (or a splash of vodka) and you’ve got yourself a true throwback treat worthy of a neon-lit victory lap.
Mission Debrief
If you’re looking for a fun beverage to sip while watching Stranger Things’ final season—or just want to time-travel to your local ‘80s mall—this is exactly the frothy throwback you need.
Retro flavor. Blender drama. Optional vodka.
Mission Status: Deliciously Complete.
