Orange Creamsicle Milkshake
An orange creamsicle milkshake is everything you love about the classic frozen creamsicle popsicle in thick, creamy milkshake form. Made with just three simple ingredients, it comes together in minutes and delivers the perfect combination of bright citrus flavor and smooth vanilla creaminess.
Whip up a creamsicle and put it in a glass
If you gave me a choice of just about any flavor, orange probably wouldn’t be at the top of my list. I like it well enough, but there are plenty of other flavors I’d choose first. Pair orange with vanilla, though, and that’s a completely different story. Creamsicle popsicles have always been impossible for me to resist, so turning those classic flavors into a rich, creamy milkshake just makes sense.
This milkshake is smooth, creamy, and more than a little nostalgic. It’s an easy homemade dessert that’s perfect for hot summer days, but it’s just as delicious any time you’re craving that classic orange and vanilla flavor combination.
If you love easy homemade milkshakes, be sure to try my homemade pumpkin milkshake for a cozy seasonal treat, my creamy chai milkshake for warm spiced flavor, or my tropical milkshake with real fruit when you’re craving something bright and refreshing.
Recipe ingredients
- Vanilla Ice Cream: Use a good-quality vanilla ice cream for the creamiest texture and fullest flavor. Vanilla bean ice cream is my first choice because the real vanilla complements the orange beautifully and creates the classic creamsicle flavor.
- Orange Juice: Freeze the orange juice before making this milkshake. Using frozen juice is essential for creating the thick, creamy consistency a proper milkshake should have. I recommend fresh-squeezed orange juice because its bright, natural citrus flavor gives the finished milkshake the closest taste to a classic creamsicle.
- Whole Milk: Whole milk provides the richness needed to blend the ice cream into a thick, smooth milkshake without thinning the flavor. It creates the best balance of creamy texture and drinkability.
- Whipped Cream: While completely optional, a generous swirl of whipped cream gives this milkshake the look and feel of an old-fashioned ice cream parlor dessert. For the best flavor and texture, make a batch of my whipped cream from scratch to use as the topping.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
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How to make an orange creamsicle milkshake
Step 1: Add the vanilla ice cream, frozen orange juice, and whole milk to a blender. Blend on high speed until the ingredients are fully incorporated and the milkshake is thick, smooth, and creamy with no visible streaks of ice cream or orange juice.
Step 2: Pour the milkshake into a chilled serving glass. If desired, garnish with whipped cream, a fresh orange slice, and a maraschino cherry. Serve immediately while the milkshake is thick, creamy, and icy cold for the best flavor and texture.
Top tips
- Don’t skip freezing Juice: This recipe is designed to use frozen orange juice. Using unfrozen juice adds too much loose liquid to the blender, making it impossible to achieve a thick milkshake consistency. Freezing the juice lets you use enough orange juice for full creamsicle flavor while keeping the milkshake rich and thick.
- Strain the Juice: Juice the oranges through a fine-mesh strainer to catch any seeds and pieces of white pith. Once the seeds and pith are removed, stir the pulp back into the juice to preserve its fresh orange flavor.
- Chill the Glass: Place your serving glass in the freezer for 10 to 15 minutes before blending. A chilled glass helps the milkshake stay thick and cold longer instead of starting to melt as soon as it’s poured.
- Blend Only Until Smooth: Once the ingredients are fully combined, stop blending. Overblending creates excess friction that warms the milkshake, making it thinner and less frosty.
- Adjust the Consistency: If you prefer a thicker milkshake, add a little more ice cream. For a thinner milkshake, add whole milk one tablespoon at a time until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Serve Immediately: Milkshakes begin melting as soon as they’re blended. Have your garnishes and serving glass ready beforehand so you can serve the milkshake at its thickest, creamiest consistency.
Other recipes you’ll love
If you loved this dessert beverage recipe, give these other great beverage recipes a try too!
Blueberry Cheesecake Milkshake Recipe
Malted Milkshake Recipe (Classic Old-Fashioned Malt)
Old Fashioned Ice Cream Float Recipe (2 Ingredients)
Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Soda
Pumpkin Spice Smoothie Recipe
Homemade Arnold Palmer
Orange Creamsicle Milkshake
Ingredients
- 1 cup vanilla ice cream
- 3/4 cup fresh squeezed orange juice frozen in cubes
- 1/3 cup whole milk
- whipped cream optional
- maraschino cherry optional
- orange slice optional
Instructions
- Add the vanilla ice cream, frozen orange juice, and whole milk to a blender.
- Blend until the milkshake is thick, smooth, and creamy with no visible streaks remaining.
- Pour into a chilled serving glass.
- If desired, top with whipped cream, an orange slice, and a maraschino cherry.
- Serve immediately while thick and icy cold.
Notes
- The orange juice must be frozen before blending. Using unfrozen juice will produce a thin drink instead of a thick milkshake.
- Fresh-squeezed orange juice provides the brightest, most natural orange flavor.
- Blend in a little more whole milk if the milkshake is too thick, or add more vanilla ice cream if you’d like it thicker.
- Place the serving glass in the freezer for 10 to 15 minutes before serving to help keep the milkshake cold and thick longer.
- Whipped cream, an orange slice, and a maraschino cherry add a classic ice cream parlor presentation but are not required.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
