Pineapple Orange Julius

It’s hot around here, and for weeks now, I haven’t been able to get the idea of a refreshing, icy Orange Julius out of my head. It was one of my favorite childhood treats — on a hot afternoon in the suburbs, nothing was better than a homemade, frosty and frothy glass of Julius. Years later as a teenager, I tried to make them by myself, but they were never the same as when my babysitter used to blend them up them for my brother and me.

Rather than try yet again to capture childhood in a glass, I chose to reinvent the classic with a vegan variation. Over at The Kitchn, I made a version with strawberries, and here, I’ve used fresh pineapple for a tropical twist! Flax seeds replace the usual egg whites to help create a thick consistency, and whole vanilla bean paste and orange extract add lots of flavor — you don’t even need to add any sweetener.

Vegan Pineapple Orange Julius

A vegan, tropical take on the classic Orange Julius.

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Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Servings: 2

Author: Coco Morante

Ingredients

• 8 ice cubes crushed (about 1 1/3 cups)
• 1 cup frozen pineapple tidbits
• 2 tablespoons ground flax seeds
• 1/4 teaspoon whole vanilla bean paste
• 1/4 teaspoon orange extract
• 1 cup orange juice
• 1/2 cup almond milk original flavor

Instructions

• Combine ingredients in a blender in the order listed.
• Blend on high speed until smooth, about one minute, stirring once during blending if necessary.

Notes

You can buy frozen pineapple tidbits or cut your own. In a pinch, I'll snag a bag from Trader Joe's, which seems to source extra sweet and flavorful pineapples (their frozen mango chunks are great, too). When I have the time, I'll break down a whole pineapple, then freeze the pieces in a single layer on a baking sheet before transferring them to a freezer bag.

Orange extract is an unusual ingredient to have on hand. You can leave it out if you prefer, or substitute a half teaspoon of freshly grated orange zest. Likewise, if you don't have whole vanilla bean paste, just use vanilla extract, but double or triple the amount according to taste.