If you love the flavors of a creamsicle, then you’re going to love this irresistible, naturally sweetened, healthy Orange Creamsicle Smoothie.

this RECIPE

HEALTHY ORANGE CREAMSICLE SMOOTHIE

I love recreating healthier versions of my favorite childhood foods. I have special memories of enjoying creamsicle popsicles with my mom.

In the 80s, we had ice cream trucks that frequented neighborhoods. I’ll never forget hearing the music loudly playing and the excitement of listening to hear if the music was getting closer to our street - if you know, you know. The dreamy creamsicles were one of my favorites to get from the ice cream truck.

As a mom of over 17 years, I have made it my mission to learn more about health and wellness. I prefer to make homemade versions of childhood comfort foods because a lot of the packaged foods don’t have ingredients that I care for.

The classic flavor of creamsicles has always remained in my mind and I love to make it into homemade ice cream and healthy smoothies!

You don't need ice cream for this healthy, orange creamsicle smoothie with orange juice. Using ice cream would be delicious too, but it’s not needed for this orange dream smoothie recipe. You only need a few simple ingredients and an extra special nourishing boost. 

I like to add grass-fed collagen to the smoothie for extra protein and nourishment - it’s totally optional though. 

BENEFITS OF COLLAGEN

Adding grass-fed collagen to smoothies is a great way to use collagen. I love adding it to foods when I want to add an extra nourishing boost - plus it has some protein too (over 10 grams per serving). It does not alter the flavor, this collagen is virtually flavorless and odorless. 

Many people get confused about the difference between gelatin and collagen. Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body and plays an important role in numerous bodily functions. 

Hydrolyzed collagen mixes and dissolves in liquids, gelatin does the opposite. Gelatin is simply cooked collagen and gelatin will do exactly what its name says - gel and thicken when cooled.

Collagen is known to support the following:

• Support gut function and digestion 
• Support healthy skin, hair and nails
• Support joint health
• Help build and restore muscle
• Support a healthy metabolism
• Support brain function
• Promote deeper sleep 
• Anti-inflammatory properties
• Source of protein

Perfect Hydrolyzed Collagen uses an all natural enzyme process to break down the very long chain collagen into shorter chain collagen peptides. This is important because shorter chain collagen peptides with a lower molecular weight than gelatin or standard collagen is much easier for the body to absorb.

NOT ALL GRASS-FED COLLAGEN IS CREATED EQUAL

I only recommend one collagen - and for good reason! This grass-fed collagen is free of pesticides, hormones, chemicals, contaminants and it’s non-GMO too. The collagen is made only from Brazilian pastured cows that spend their life in Brazil, grazing on grass.

Their Perfect Hydrolyzed Collagen is the world’s first collagen (and gelatin) to earn the glyphosate residue-free certification from the Detox Project. Want to see the proof for yourself, you can view their Perfectly Pure glyphosate-free certification and their purity certification on their site. 

You will not find that from other competitor brands on the market, especially the ones sold in grocery stores. Check for yourself - that popular blue container that’s sold in many grocery stores and natural food stores was bought out by Nestlé Health Science and they do not have any glyphosate-free certifications listed publicly. Other brands like Great Lakes don’t fit the bill either.

Another bonus is one serving of Perfect Hydrolyzed Collagen has over 10 grams of protein and it tests out at 97% protein - the highest in the industry! It also has such a low molecular weight that is over 90% bioavailable.

I have a 10% off discount for my readers - use NOURISH10 at checkout. They offer a 90 Day Money Back Guarantee too!

WHAT MAKES THIS RECIPE GREAT

• Simple: It’s so easy to make your own homemade orange creamsicle smoothie with orange juice. It only has 5 healthier ingredients plus 3 extra optional ingredients, takes very little prep time and under a minute to blend in a blender.
• Flavor: It’s like an orange milkshake without the ice cream! This healthy orange cream smoothie is full of that blissful, nostalgic, creamy orange dream/orange creamsicle flavor - the perfect balance between orange, cream and vanilla. Plus it’s not too sweet!
• Healthy Comfort Food: For those of us who grew up enjoying the classic orange creamsicle, also known as an orange dream popsicle, the orange-vanilla combo is certainly a comforting flavor that sparks joy. This honey sweetened orange creamsicle smoothie is made with healthier ingredients so you can enjoy this incredible drink anytime you get a craving for a nostalgic treat.

ORANGE CREAMSICLE SMOOTHIE EQUIPMENT

• Blender: You’ll need a blender to blend and fully mix this orange creamsicle smoothie.
• Microplane Zester: If you’re using the orange zest to add extra orange flavor, use a microplane zester to zest the clean oranges.
• Knife: A knife is necessary for cutting the oranges in half so they can be juiced.
• Cutting Board: A cutting board is helpful to have on hand for cutting the oranges in half before juicing them.
• Handheld Orange Squeezer: It’s completely optional to use a handheld orange squeezer to make the orange juice. It’s super simple to squeeze oranges with your hands too - use whatever works best for you.
• Fine Mesh Strainer: If the oranges have seeds (usually they will have at least a few), it’s helpful to use a fine mesh strainer set over a measuring cup while you juice the oranges.
• Measuring Cup: I like to use a glass measuring cup when juicing the oranges. It’s easy to set a fine mesh strainer over the top of the glass as well as be able to see how much you have juiced from the fresh oranges. You’ll also need measuring cups for measuring the milk and cream.
• Measuring Spoons: You’ll need measuring spoons to measure the honey, vanilla extract and optional collagen.

ORANGE CREAMSICLE SMOOTHIE INGREDIENT NOTES

• Fresh Orange Juice: Freshly squeezed orange juice is so delicious! You’ll need approximately 3 large, juicy oranges to make enough orange juice for this recipe. Valencia and Navel oranges are good varieties to look for, they tend to have more juice which makes them great for juicing. Navel oranges tend to be a bit sweeter - a plus in my opinion! Cara Cara oranges are sweet and rich in flavor too, however their inner flesh is more red in color and will produce a pink-ish color.
• Cream: This is absolutely a must for this smoothie. The full-fat cream really helps give that delectable, creamy texture that creamsicles are known for.
• Whole Milk: Using full-fat whole milk is important too, it also adds to the perfect creamy texture and flavor.
• Vanilla Extract: This is a must! It brings the classic vanilla notes to the creamsicle flavor.
• Raw Honey: Honey is one of my favorite natural sweeteners to use. Make sure to use a lighter honey like clover, star thistle or orange blossom - wildflower varieties are too overpowering and strong in flavor.
• Orange Zest: This adds extra flavor, but it’s totally optional. Zesting any citrus enhances the citrusy flavor in the food being prepared because it’s rich in the natural oils of the fruit. I recommend using organic citrus if you’re using the zest. Make sure to only zest the colorful part of the orange peel, not the inner white pith - because the white pith is bitter.
• Mineral-Rich Salt: Salt not only helps enhance the flavor, but it also adds minerals. I only recommend using a  mineral-rich salt or sea salt, otherwise, just omit the salt.
• Hydrolyzed Grass-fed Collagen: This is optional, but I love to add grass-fed collagen to smoothies because it’s a great way to add an extra nourishing boost and some protein too (over 10 grams per serving). It doesn’t alter the flavor, the collagen I recommend is virtually flavorless and odorless.

HOW TO MAKE AN ORANGE CREAMSICLE SMOOTHIE

It’s so simple to make this delicious, easy orange creamsicle smoothie, but you do need to prep it one day in advance.

Start by picking out large oranges. Organic oranges are important if you’re using the orange zest, however, if you can’t find them, oranges are currently #28 on the EWG’s Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce, so as long as you’re removing their outer peel, you’re good to go.

Tips for Which Oranges to Use

The variety is pretty important when it comes to making fresh orange juice. Valencia are the most common oranges used in making orange juice. They’re great for juiciness, however, my preference is Navel oranges since they are known to be sweeter than Valencia oranges.

If you don’t mind the color of the smoothie changing, Cara Cara oranges are also delicious, produce a good amount of juice and are sweet like Navel oranges. Their inner flesh has a red hue, so it will produce a reddish juice and will make the smoothie a slightly different color.

Prep & Juice the Oranges

You’ll want to wash the oranges first - please don’t skip this step. Even if the oranges are organic, you’ll still want to wash the outside because oil based pesticides and ripening agents are found (and allowed) on organic produce. It helps remove any leftover residue, debris and dirt and makes it much cleaner for zesting.

If you’re using the orange zest to add extra orange flavor, use a microplane zester and zest the dried oranges, making sure to only zest the orange part of the orange peel, not the inner white pith. Then set the orange zest aside.

Next, grab a cutting board and chef’s knife and cut the oranges in half. If you have a citrus juicer, by all means use that to make the orange juice. Otherwise, use a handheld orange squeezer to make the orange juice or just use a glass measuring cup, fine mesh strainer and juice the oranges by hand. Juice the oranges until you have 1 ½ cups of juice.

Once you’ve juiced the oranges, add the orange zest to a glass measuring cup and give it a quick stir. Then pour the freshly squeezed orange juice mixture into a BPA-free ice cube tray. Freeze the juice overnight until the juice is frozen.

When the orange juice ice cubes are frozen, add them to a blender and then add all of the remaining ingredients to the blender. Cover with the blender lid and blend on high speed until the smoothie is smooth and fully combined.

Then serve immediately and enjoy!

RECIPE FAQS: TIPS FOR ORANGE CREAMSICLE SMOOTHIE SUCCESS

• How much smoothie will this recipe make? The finished yield is about 2 ½ cups and serves 1-2 people.
• Can this orange creamsicle smoothie recipe be doubled? Yes, as long as your blender is large enough to make a larger batch.
• How sweet is this orange dream smoothie? It has just the right amount of sweetness without being too much, letting the orange flavor shine through. If you prefer it to be very sweet, you can add another tablespoon or two of raw honey.
• What kind of honey should be used in this healthy orange creamsicle smoothie recipe? I only recommend using a mild, light-colored, quality raw honey for this recipe. Honey flavors like orange blossom honey, clover honey, thistle honey or alfalfa honey are known to be the most mild in flavor. This is my favorite raw honey - I love their orange blossom and “original” honey. I also love using this raw honey - it’s easy to find online as well as at grocery stores like Sprouts Farmers Market.
• Can you substitute the honey for another sweetener in this recipe? You can, however it could alter the flavor if you use a sweetener like maple syrup, which will take away from the authentic creamsicle flavor.
• How should this orange creamsicle smoothie be served? You can enjoy as is, make it into a smoothie bowl and add toppings on top, add a crunchy topping to your smoothie like chocolate chips, granola, etc. or jazz it up and make it a sweet treat and top it with homemade whipped cream.

ORANGE SEASON IS TYPICALLY NOVEMBER THROUGH JUNE, HOWEVER - YOU CAN USUALLY GET ORANGES YEAR-ROUND. SO GIVE THIS YUMMY ORANGE CREAMSICLE SMOOTHIE RECIPE A TRY. IT’S SO GOOD, YOU’RE GOING TO WANT TO MAKE IT ALL THE TIME!

IF YOU LIKE THIS EASY ORANGE CREAMSICLE RECIPE, YOU MAY ALSO LIKE THESE DELICIOUS RECIPES FROM RECIPES TO NOURISH:

• Matcha Moringa Superfood Smoothie 
• Antioxidant Blueberry Orange Smoothie
• High Protein Raspberry Cheesecake Smoothie
• High Protein Golden Milk Smoothie
• Healthy Chocolate Orange Smoothie
• Homemade Orange Creamsicle Ice Cream (no sugar, paleo, dairy-free option)
• Real Food Chocolate Dipped Mandarin Oranges
• One Pan Citrus Beets Roasted Chicken
• Roasted Maple Citrus Herb Olives
• Hot Garlic Ginger Lemonade
• Homemade Orange Jello (no refined cane sugar)
• Nourishing Honey Sweetened Hot Chocolate (no sugar, paleo, dairy-free option)
• Healthy Frozen Hot Chocolate

Real Food Orange Creamsicle Smoothie

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Orange Creamsicle Smoothie

Yield: 1-2 servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

If you love the flavors of a creamsicle, then you’re going to love this irresistible, naturally sweetened, healthy Orange Creamsicle Smoothie.

Print

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups frozen, fresh organic orange juice - approx. 4 large oranges (see directions)
• zest from 1-2 oranges (optional)
• ½ cup grass-fed, raw or organic cream
• ½ cup grass-fed, raw or organic whole milk
• 2-3 tablespoon light colored raw honey
• 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2-4 tablespoon hydrolyzed grass-fed collagen (optional)
• pinch mineral-rich salt

Instructions

1. ADVANCE PREPARATION REQUIRED: The day before you want to make the smoothie, wash and dry all of the oranges. If you’re using the orange zest to add extra orange flavor, use a microplane zester and zest the dried oranges, making sure to only zest the orange part of the orange peel, not the inner white pith. Then set the orange zest aside.
2. Grab a cutting board and chef’s knife and cut the oranges in half. If you have a citrus juicer, by all means use that to make the orange juice. Otherwise, use a handheld orange squeezer to make the orange juice or just use a glass measuring cup, fine mesh strainer and juice the oranges by hand. Juice the oranges until you have 1 ½ cups of juice.
3. Add the orange zest to a glass measuring cup and give it a quick stir. Then pour the freshly squeezed orange juice mixture into a BPA-free ice cube tray. Freeze the juice overnight until the juice is frozen.
4. When the orange juice ice cubes are frozen, add them to a blender followed by all of the remaining ingredients. Secure the blender lid and blend on high speed until the smoothie is smooth and fully combined.
5. Serve immediately. Enjoy!
   

Notes

Equipment You Need for This Recipe: BPA-free Ice Cube Tray, Knife, Cutting Board, Measuring Cup or Medium Size Bowl, optional Citrus Juicer or Handheld Orange Squeezer, Fine Mesh Strainer, Microplane Zester, Measuring Cups & Measuring Spoons, Blender

Yield: About 2 ½ cups. Serves 1-2.

Smoothie Popsicles Option: This smoothie also makes delicious popsicles. Pour the smoothie directly into popsicle molds and freeze for at least 6 hours or until solid and set. I use these popsicle molds.

Raw Honey: Use a lighter color honey (not wildflower honey) to ensure the flavor stays mild and doesn’t alter the flavor. I like and use these honey brands:

• Certified Organic Raw Honey (Sprouts Farmers Market carries this)
• Local Hive Raw & Unfiltered Clover or Orange Blossom Honey (Sprouts Farmers Market carries this)
• Unfiltered Raw Honey
• Unfiltered Orange Blossom Honey

Hydrolyzed Grass-fed Collagen: Collagen adds a nourishing boost to this orange creamsicle smoothie as well as some extra protein. I only recommend this non-GMO grass-fed collagen that is certified free of pesticides, hormones, chemicals and contaminants. This collagen is the world’s first collagen (and gelatin) to earn the glyphosate residue-free certification from the Detox Project (see the above notes on the benefits of grass-fed collagen in my post for more information). I have a 10% off discount for my readers - use NOURISH10 at checkout.

Sea Salt: Salt not only helps enhance the flavor and adds a little bit of savory to the sweet, but it also adds minerals. I only recommend using a mineral-rich salt or sea salt, otherwise, just skip the salt. Just add a pinch, I don’t measure mine, I just add 2-3 shakes from my salt shaker.

The photographs of this recipe, recipe and all content above are copyright protected. Please do not use my photos without prior written permission. If you choose to share this recipe, please feel free to share by using proper etiquette and providing a link back to my original recipe on my blog, not a screenshot, with proper disclosure [the original recipe - "title of recipe" by Recipes to Nourish]. Copying/pasting the full recipe text to websites or social media is prohibited. If you make significant changes to the recipe or adapt the recipe in any way, please rewrite the recipe in your own unique words and provide a link back here with proper disclosure for credit. Thanks for understanding!

[Updated March 2024]

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Nutrition Information:

Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 808Total Fat: 48gSaturated Fat: 30gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 147mgSodium: 100mgCarbohydrates: 87gFiber: 10gSugar: 66gProtein: 15g

This nutritional information was auto-generated based on serving size, number of servings, and typical information for the ingredients listed. To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in a given recipe, please calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients and amounts used, using your preferred nutrition calculator. Under no circumstances shall the this website and the author be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on the given nutritional information. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.

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