When I was growing up, one of my favorite things to do was ride my bike with my friends to the local gas station’s mini-mart and reach into their freezer case and pull out an Orange Push-Up.
If you like Orange PushUps, Orange Creamsicles, or Orange Julius this is the smoothie for you.
I loved Push-Ups and seeing those brightly colored dots meant that creamy orange goodness was soon going to be mine.
I love it when Push-Ups begin to melt because they taste even sweeter, creamier, and better.
The same was true with this smoothie. As it began to melt, it got even better.
This smoothie is a dead ringer for Orange Push-Ups.
Don’t skimp on the sugar if you want it to taste exactly like an Orange Push-Up and I promise, it does.
Sweet oranges ‘n creamy perfection.
I used this mango-orange from Hawaii’s Own brand for the concentrate. It was on sale for 99 cents for the can at my grocery store and I was being cheap being budget conscious and didn’t want to buy the Minute Maid which was $3.29 for one can.
If you can’t find this concentrate, I’m sure any OJ concentrate or citrus juice concentrate blend should be fine. I really didn’t taste mango per se, just an orangey citrus flavor.
This recipe made three good-sized smoothies and since I wasn’t going to drink them all at once, I popped the leftover smoothie mixture in the freezer and realized after the fact that I should have poured the extra into Popsicle molds for homemade Push-Ups. Next time, I’ll do that.
For now, I’ve been eating it like orange sherbet style with a spoon from the glasses I poured it into and then froze.
The variations of what I’m going to do with this addictive orange mixture is exciting and has my wheels turning:
1. Pour it into molds and freeze like traditional Push-Ups (or frozen into ice cube trays or poured into paper Dixie cups with a makeshift stick inserted and peel off the paper cup after it has frozen)
2. Freeze it and eat in a bowl as orange sherbert
3. Drink it smoothie style
Now if the weather could just warm up a bit so my teeth don’t chatter while I slurp copious amounts of orange sugary liquid.
But I’ll shiver and chatter for this stuff any day.
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Orange Push-Up Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 can orange juice concentrate, slightly thawed
- 1 cup milk, half and half, cream, nut milk, soy milk, vegan milk, etc.
- ½ cup granulated sugar, or to taste (you can reduce the sugar or use an alternate sugar substitute such as stevia
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups ice, or to taste
- 1 to 2 ounces of Rum, Malibu, Vodka, Citron, Marshmallow Vodka, Gran Marnier or similar, per smoothie portion, or to taste, optional
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients, except ice and optional alcohol, in a large blender or Vita-Mix and blend until smooth and creamy, taking care the sugar has dissolved and is well incorporated. Keep blending until it dissolves. If desired, add a splash more water or milk.
- Add the ice and blend until smooth. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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If you’re a fan of fruity and creamy smoothies, try:
Pineapple Banana & Coconut Cream Smoothie
Peaches & Coconut Cream Smoothie
Or just cut to a dessert smoothie with a Creamy Cookie Butter White Chocolate Banana Smoothie. Use peanut butter or almond butter if that’s what you have available because there’s a cookie butter shortage.
Questions:
Do you like Push-Ups?
Do you like orange drinks?
I also love Orange Julius and Orange Crush soda. I haven’t had either in years, but I am fond enough of Orange Crush to order Orange Crush checks.
I am apparently stuck in a 1982 timewarp where people still write out checks and long to lick melty Push-Up with dots on the paper wrapper from the gas station.
While I’m at it, I’d like to do this all while watching The Brady Bunch and Three’s Company reruns and use my bike as my primary mode of transportation. Ahh, childhood memories. And maybe I’ll pour an Orange Creamsicle soda while I’m at it, too.
Found your site through Pinterest and repinned the link to your recipe. Wanted to share with you . . . I have a gadget I think you will like as it will allow you to fully recreate the push up experience! Stumbled on these at the grocery store. Cool Cones . . . plastic reusable push up holders! You can fill them with the smoothie mix and then freeze until firm or pack slightly soft ice cream into the holder (just use the holder as its own scoop) and store for a quick half cup serving on the go. I absolutely love these things . . . good memories, great fun and very practical. They are available at Amazon.com for less than five dollars. Video at the manufacturer’s site https://www.jokari.com/products/G_05210.html Thanks for the recipe!
Thanks for finding me and saying hi. What a fun link. Thanks for sharing!
Hi! What blender do you recommend to make these? I have been torn trying to find one that will make a great smoothie!
A Vita-Mix. It’s expensive but it’s the single best investment of kitchen equipment I have made, period. It changed my life about 5 years ago when I bought it.
https://secure.vitamix.com/redirect.aspx?index.aspx?COUPON=06-004419
These smoothies look so inviting! I just submitted this to the M&T Spotlight https://www.makeandtakes.com/spotlight
Thanks for posting it there! I appreciate it. Fun site!
I was just wondering how many calories are in this Drink. cause it seriously looks yummy but I need to make sure it fits within my calorie count. thanks a bunch
Not sure because I don’t track it but you could plug the ingredients into an online calculator and calculate for yourself if you’re interested.
I did this with no sugar, just a little honey, and also added some “green cubes” (I puree spinach, kale, avacado, celery and romaine and pour it into baby food ice trays and add 2 or 3 to every smoothie). It still tasted great! Thanks for the idea!
These looked so good, but I must say they did not taste good. I don’t know if I did something wrong, but they didn’t taste like a creamsicle at all. And the gritty sugar just made it worse. Very disappointing.
It didn’t taste like a creamsicle to me either, rather an Orange Pushup like I mentioned in the post. Regarding the grittiness, I blended for a long time in my Vitamix. Not sure what you did or the brand of your frozen concentrate, the type of milk you used, or the other variables; sorry you didn’t like it. I’ve had lots of people say they’ve loved it but I appreciate all feedback from zero to hero, so to speak.
Okay … wow. What a response! Congrats on your successful pin/post/whatever it started as. I just wnted to comment on the pictures. Did you take them? Even if not … AAWWWWWWWSSSSOMMMMME! Really! I could almost taste it just looking at these most amazing pics. I have a stash of bathroom cups that never get used. I think I’ll use them for this recipe. I think I REALLY need to get an upright freezer to have a shelf dedicated for these freeze ahead goodies! Thanks for the post! CHEERS!
Yes I did take them; I take all the food photos on my site for all the recipes I create. Couldn’t imagine paying someone else to do that :) I love photography and it’s become as much a passion as the recipe development so thanks for the kind words.
If I were making a food ad, I’d pay you. They are actually so beautiful, that you should consider making prints available. Some of those would look beautiful framed and on the wall. Seriously … impressive. Now I’m going to have to go browse your site just to take a peek at your other pictures! BLESSINGS!!!!
If I were making a food ad, I’d pay you. They are actually so beautiful that you should consider making prints available. Some of those would look beautiful framed and on the wall. Seriously … impressive. Now I’m going to have to go browse your site just to take a peek at your other pictures! BLESSINGS!!!!
Thanks for the sweet words, Debi. Yes, it’s all me doing my own photography. I’ve learned a thing or two in the past 3 years blogging and I appreciate the compliments and encouraging words.
My mom used to drive my brother and I all the way into town when we were kids just to get orange push-ups from the local gas station/general store; I tried this recipe, and it brought me back to my childhood. The little single-serve blender in my kitchen got a bit hot making the mix in batches, but now I have a ton of delicious sherbet in the freezer. Thanks so much for the recipe (and the warm memories!)
Glad you enjoyed it and that it was a trip down memory lane for you….thanks for telling me that little story!
Hi! Thanks for this lovely recipe. I pinned it and just saw that it has been repinned from me over 350 times. That makes it a hit for sure!! :)
Thanks for saying hi and I wasn’t sure how many times it was pinned and dare I say, I don’t even know how to check those stats…all I know is it’s been really popular based on how many emails I am getting with the re-pinning notices and I am so happy people seem to like it. It’s one of my fave smoothies to date.