Mock Orange Julius Recipe

This mock Orange Julius recipe is one of my favorite treats to make at home. It is so simple and it is so easy to make. It is cool and creamy with that citrusy flavor that I love.

I found this Mock Orange Julius recipe more than 20 years ago. Or maybe I should say that it found me.

My daughter had a very serious problem with her upper jaw that required major oral surgery when she was 14 years old. Basically, her upper jaw (read “teeth”) did not sit on the lower teeth, but down inside the lower jaw. This resulted in a “bulldog” effect. She had no biting or chewing ability unless she twisted her jaw. As you can image, this was not a good situation at all that severely affected her health as well as her self esteem.

Several years of braces did not correct the problem and eventually the only option left was surgery. The upper jaw was split down the center. It was moved up 3 mm. It was moved forward 4 mm. And the back was spread apart by 5 mm. Metal plates and screws were used to hold everything in place. (Back in those days, the plates and screws would set off the alarm on the security screen at the airport. For years, she had to carry copies of the x-rays with her when she flew. Luckily, the security screening machines are much more sophisticated now and the metal plates do not set off the alarms anymore).

Mock Orange Julius is perfect for a liquid or soft food diet.

A plastic mold was placed in the upper jaw, much like a cast, to hold everything in place. Her jaws were not wired shut due to the danger of her chocking. She was on a totally liquid diet for three months while her jaw healed. To add to the problem, she was not allowed to suck through a straw either. She had to use a large food syringe to squirt the liquid into her mouth, back past her tongue, so that she could swallow it before it ran out the front of her mouth.

It was a happy day when she graduated to soft foods like yogurt, oatmeal, applesauce, and soft mashed potatoes that could be eaten from a spoon. Still, she could not chew anything for several more months.

It was extremely difficult to find foods that she could and would eat. After a while, even the tastiest milkshake begins to lose its appeal. That is when this delicious treat came into our lives. The mock Orange Julius recipe was on the suggested diet sheet we received from the surgeon’s office. (And, just for the record, I was not worried about feeding her an “unhealthy” diet. I was more concerned with feeding her “any” diet. )

Mock Orange Julius Recipe

And just in case you’re wondering – today she has a beautiful smile.

Give this delicious beverage a try and tell me what you think in the comments below.

Other Recipes You Might Like: Banana Pudding; Mixed Fruit Salad; Cherry Fluff Salad