Smoothie Recipe Using Orange Juice

Fruit juices are often used in making smoothies, so naturally, I had to share one of my smoothie recipes using orange juice.

Enjoy this sweet blend, made with only 4-ingredients!

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Recipe Variations

Whether you were looking specifically for smoothies with orange juice and frozen fruit, or something different, I have many variations to offer you!

I spent several hours testing out different variations of this smoothie with orange juice, so naturally, created multiple different versions of this recipe.

To achieve a different-tasting smoothie, add more nutrients, or simply change it up completely, feel free to try some of my tested variations below:

#1. Change The Fruit Juice!

The final version of this orange juice smoothie with yogurt and banana that I settled for, was made using orange juice from a concentrate.

I tested other versions using freshly squeezed orange juice and even other types of fruit juices.

Consider changing the following:

1. Use freshly squeezed orange juice rather than a concentrate.
2. Change the fruit juice to apple juice or other fruit juice.

Both of these versions tasted great. However, if you use apple juice, the taste of the smoothie will taste differently. 

#2. Make It Vegan

The final version that I settled for is a Greek yogurt orange juice smoothie,  which of course is not vegan-friendly.

To make the smoothie suitable for vegans, simply replace the Greek yogurt with a plant-based alternative such as almond or coconut yogurt.

This substitution maintains the creamy texture.

I liked the smoothie better with coconut yogurt, but this is a personal preference. 

#3. Boost The Protein Content

Protein is so important for many different reasons.

However, when you have a carb-dense smoothie, and quite sweet, you will want to balance it out a bit by either adding another source of fiber or more protein.

Fiber and protein slow down digestion which is important in terms of avoiding energy crashes. 

The smoothie as it is contains 10g of protein per serving thanks to the yogurt, but you can increase it to up to 30g!

I tested adding 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder. It worked very well and added aroma to the smoothie.

#4. Cut Down The Sugar

The final variation that I tested was a smoothie with orange juice and milk. Using milk allowed me to cut down on the total amount of sugar in the smoothie.

I simply did half and half milk and orange juice, instead of only using orange juice. 

Try this variation if you want to cut down on the sugar content of this berry orange juice smoothie.

Smoothie Tips

Some key tips I can offer you, so you can achieve the best result possible include:

1. Add the frozen fruit as close to the blender blades as possible. I always add frozen fruit first to my blender. This ensures that the blades work through the frozen fruit first and crush them.
2. Start the blending at a lower speed, so that the blender can work through the frozen fruit first.
3. Pause and Scrape: If the blender seems to struggle, pause the blending process, scrape down the sides with a spatula, and then resume. This ensures all ingredients are incorporated evenly.
4. Experiment with Texture: Adjust the amount of liquid based on your desired smoothie texture. For a thicker smoothie, use less liquid; for a thinner consistency, add more.

Questions From The Smoothie Community

I shared this recipe to my TikTok channel first, before writing it up in this recipe post.

Some of the community members there had some questions regarding the smoothie recipe and using fruit juices in smoothies in general.

Below are the most common questions and their answers:

Is Orange Juice Good In Smoothies?

Orange juice serves one main purpose that all liquids do to smoothies, and that is to help blend your ingredients and create a smooth drinkable consistency. Adding orange juice also adds additional sweetness to your blends. The only downside to using orange juice in smoothies is the amount of sugar orange juice adds to smoothies.

Are Smoothies Better With Orange Juice Or Milk?

It really depends on what you are trying to achieve. If you are dairy-free for example, orange juice might be better than milk. However, orange juice has a stronger flavor than milk. If you don’t mind the orange flavor, then orange juice might be a good idea.

Are Smoothies With Orange Juice Healthy?

They can be! What matters is the amount of juice you use, and what type of ingredients you blend with it. Ideally, when you make smoothies with orange juice, make sure you use freshly squeezed orange juice, or use quality orange juice that’s from the whole fruit, not just from a concentrate. Avoid using fruit juices with added sugars especially.