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A thick, creamy, and refreshing Orange Smoothie is the perfect healthy breakfast for busy mornings! Packed with bright citrus, warm vanilla, and plenty of protein, this is a dairy-free clean eating breakfast that tastes like a delicious treat!
This post is sponsored by Blue Diamond Almond Breeze Almondmilk. Thanks for supporting the brands that make The Seasoned Mom possible!
Hey, guys! If you’re a child of the 80’s (like me), then you probably remember the Orange Julius® stands at the mall where you could grab an orange Creamsicle-flavored shake as a sweet treat (and often pick up a hot dog to have alongside)!
Well, I’m here today with some good news! I have managed to recreate the classic frosty beverage in the form of a healthy, protein-packed orange smoothie that’s energizing, satisfying, and (dare I say?) BETTER than the original!
There are a few very simple ingredients that make this dairy-free protein shake so good. I use freshly-squeezed orange juice for flavor and natural sweetness (plus, don’t forget the Vitamin C power that we can all use at this time of year), as well as the zest from an orange for a stronger orange flavor.
The rich and creamy base of the smoothie is this Unsweetened Original Blue Diamond Almond Breeze Almondmilk. It’s one of my favorite ways to keep the calories in check without sacrificing any texture or taste…because this almondmilk only has 30 CALORIES PER SERVING!! Awesome, right?
Nourish Your Body With An Orange Smoothie
Fresh oranges and creamy almondmilk make this Orange Smoothie a sweet way to nourish your body and power you through your morning. Plus, with only about 200 calories, it’s a great way to help you stick with those New Year’s resolutions!
Making An Orange Smoothie
Enjoy a shake in the morning with some peanut butter toast or a wholegrain muffin for breakfast, sip on a smoothie during the afternoon for a little pick-me-up, or even share one with your spouse as an after-dinner treat. No matter when you indulge, I know that you will instantly be transported back to the summer days of your childhood…sipping on a retro shake!
This smoothie is so easy to make, all you need is a blender and in under 5 minutes breakfast is served, it’s super quick and always hit’s the spot! If you want to change things up a little why not try adding…
- Strawberries
- Raspberries
- Banana
- Lime
- Clementines
Orange Dream Protein Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder the brand that I used contains 100 calories per scoop
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ¾ cup Blue Diamond Almond Breeze Unsweetened Almondmilk Original or Vanilla flavor
- ¾ cup freshly-squeezed orange juice from about 2 large navel oranges
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- 1-2 cups ice
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to blender and combine!
I totally remember orange julius drinks! This smoothie is definitely a blast from the past and it sounds SO good! I love the flavors in here, Blair!
Thanks, Gayle! I’m glad I’m not the only one who remembers those things! 🙂
This absolutely looks dreamy! I make an orange julius in the summer time, but I’ve never made it with protein powder. I will be trying to Blair!
Thanks, Megan! Yes, the protein powder gives it added staying power and makes it thick and creamy. Love that!! Enjoy. 🙂
OMG. That looks so good. Quick question, which protein powder do you use
Thanks, Nicole! It’s definitely delicious!
I’ve used a variety of protein powders, but my go-to at the moment is made by Quest. In this recipe I used the vanilla flavor, but they’re all good. They have 100 cals/scoop and a ton of protein (about 20 grams). I like the thick consistency of the Quest powders, but you could use just about any vanilla powder that you like in this recipe. If you have any dietary considerations like gluten-free or vegan needs, then just be sure to pick a powder that meets your criteria. Enjoy!!
oh i love that quest vanilla milkshake! would be so great with this!! YUM!
Thanks, Lindsay! Isn’t it good?! Hope you try this!
Ooooo it’s like a super healthy version of Orange Julius! I’m craving one right now. Admittedly I wasn’t really a ‘child’ of the 80’s, more like born in the 80’s/toddler of the 80’s but that doesn’t mean I didn’t grow up with Orange Julius stores in our mall! I cannot wait to try this!
Exactly, Chrissa! You’re a youngin’ — but I’m glad that you still know what an Orange Julius is! 🙂
Could I just use orange juice?
Hi, Bethany! Do you mean just use OJ instead of the zest? If so, yes…but it won’t have nearly as much orange flavor. 🙂
If you’re looking to substitute an extra 3/4 cup of OJ for the almond milk, that will work fine. It just won’t be quite as creamy.
I enjoy reading your weekly posts in my email and save some of the recipes. What stores carry the protein powder you use?
Hi, Cynthia! I like the Quest protein powders at the moment, and I find them at either Vitamin Shoppe or GNC. You can also order them online. I love that they make a smoothie super-thick and creamy. Another good brand with similar texture and nutritional stats is IsoPure. If you want something that you can pick up at stores like Target or Walmart, you might try the EAS Lean protein powders. They’re pretty good, too!
Thanks so much for reading the blog!!! Have a great weekend!
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Oh my goodness!!! Yes!!!! I SO remember those days. I can’t wait to make this tomorrow as my afternoon snack. Thank you so much for sharing!
Thanks, Jessica! I’m so glad that you’ll try it!! 🙂
This recipe looks so yummy. I’m looking for an orange protein drink I can really enjoy. I’m 2 weeks post op after having gastric sleeve surgery. The only question I have is the sugar content looks high and not sure this would work.
Hi, Brad! You can find a protein powder that is sweetened with Stevia or other substitutes that will keep the sugars low. Then you’ll just have the natural sugars in the orange. I’m not sure if that’s okay on your diet or not, but it’s certainly delicious. 🙂
I just made this for the first time and it was delicious! I have a go to smoothie that I really love but it’s nice to add something new. Thank you for a great recipe!
Wonderful! Thanks for your feedback, Crystal! I’m so glad that you enjoyed it!
Wondering how this is titled Dairy Free when the first Ingredient in protein powder is whey? I know you said in the article to find a powder that suits your diet but the title is what drew me in.
Hey, Jennifer! You can just use a protein powder that’s not whey. Vega makes a good one that folks like, but there are a lot of other options out there. Any vanilla non-dairy powder should suit your needs. 🙂
Wow! First time I have in a long time i liked the smoothie enough to finish in only a few short minutes! I have been searching for a way to utilize my Vega vanilla protein powder into my diet. So thank you! Do you have any smoothie recipes using a berry flavored protein powder??
Hi, Sarah! I would use the berry flavored powder in any fruit-flavored smoothies (it can easily replace the vanilla in those recipes). Here are a couple of my favorites:
– Add a scoop of powder into this smoothie: https://www.theseasonedmom.com/southern-ambrosia-smoothie/
– Add a scoop to this smoothie: https://www.theseasonedmom.com/cupids-vanilla-berry-smoothie-and-a-valentines-day-lunchbox/
Enjoy!!! 🙂
This sounds amazing, question on the nutritional information. Since you are using a scoop of protein powder in this smoothie, shouldn’t the protein be higher than 2g?
Hey, Sharona! Thanks for noticing that mistake! The nutrition panel was automatically generated by the recipe card plugin, and it was obviously not correct. 🙂 I just manually entered the correct information, so it’s updated! I calculated the nutrition based on a 100-calorie protein powder made by Quest Nutrition, so adjust those numbers based on whatever powder you choose to use. Enjoy!
I made it and it’s really yummy! Thank you for the recipe!
Thanks, Julie!