TheKitchn.com

I was first introduced to the Orange Julius by Jeanette, the best babysitter of all time. She taught me and my brother to speak Pig Latin, took us to the park for rollerblading and grilled cheese sandwiches, and even managed to make chores fun.

On many a lucky afternoon, Jeanette would make us a big batch of Orange Julius -- her version of the well-known mall concoction -- combining orange juice, milk, ice cubes, an egg white, and a dash of vanilla in our trusty Osterizer blender. I loved the creamy, frothy treat -- it was like an orange creamsicle in smoothie form.

Here, I've given the Julius a vegan update. Instead of egg whites, you'll use ground flax to give the smoothie a slightly thickened consistency. The recipe contains a lot less sweetener than most copy-cat versions you'll find online, which often call for pre-sugared sliced frozen strawberries, orange juice concentrate, and up to a quarter cup of sugar.

Don't worry, this Strawberry Orange Julius is still plenty indulgent -- agave syrup makes things nice and sweet, and a dash of orange extract dials up the orange flavor without extra calories.

Vegan Strawberry Orange Julius

Serves 2.

1 cup frozen strawberries

1 cup crushed ice

2 tablespoons agave syrup

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