The orange creamsicle is a liquid version of the popular frozen treat, complete with a creamy orange flavor. You can enjoy it as a sweet cocktail or martini, a boozy float, a blended drink, or a tempting shot. However you pour it, they all have three things in common: vodka, orange (either juice or soda), and cream (cream, ice cream, or cream liqueur). All three ways to make it are sure to be delicious.
This recipe is a great use for vanilla vodka, which was the only sweet vodka available when the drink first became a big hit. Today, there are a number of alternatives, and whipped cream vodka is a perfect fit for the creamsicle.
“Talented bartenders in the early 2000’s could bend flavored vodkas to their will and make delicious concoctions. This is one such concoction. If you are a fan of an Orange Creamsicle this cocktail does the trick. The recipe is balanced and allows the ingredients to play their parts.” —Sean Michael Johnson
Ingredients
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1 1/2 ounces vanilla or whipped cream vodka
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1/2 ounce triple sec
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1 ounce half-and-half
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1 ounce orange juice
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Orange slice, for garnish
Steps to Make It
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Gather the ingredients.
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In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, pour the vodka, triple sec, half-and-half, and orange juice.
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Garnish with an orange slice and serve.
Tips
- Use either fresh-squeezed orange juice or pulp-free bottled juice for the best drink. One orange will yield enough juice for two or three creamsicles.
- Half-and-half is not as thick as cream or as light as milk, though either makes a good substitute in this cocktail. (One made with milk would technically be called a dreamsicle.) For dairy-free alternatives, try vanilla-flavored soy or almond milk.
Recipe Variations
- Strain the orange creamsicle into a cocktail glass. If you like, top it with a little whipped cream.
- Triple sec is not essential, though it is a nice sweetener. Skip it if you don't have it in stock or switch to an orange-flavored vodka.
- Add more orange juice and half-and-half (2 to 3 ounces each) to make a taller drink. Serve it on the rocks in a collins glass.
- Enjoy a frozen creamsicle: Blend the recipe's vodka, triple sec, and orange juice with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or orange sherbet. Add a few ice cubes to give it more of a frozen margarita consistency; use 1 cup of ice when using half-and-half instead of ice cream.
- Make a simple orange creamsicle: Pour 1 1/2 ounces each of vodka and cream liqueur (e.g., Irish cream or RumChata) in a tall glass filled with ice. Top it off with orange soda.
- Transform this cocktail into a creamsicle float: Pour 1 1/2 ounces of vodka and 1/2 ounce of triple sec into a chilled glass. Add a small scoop of vanilla ice cream and top it with orange soda.
- To make an orange creamsicle shot, simply strain the original recipe into two shot glasses.
- For a creamsicle pudding shot: Use 1/4 cup orange vodka, 3/4 cup RumChata, 1 cup milk, and 1 box of vanilla pudding.
How Strong Is the Creamsicle Cocktails?
In general, the orange creamsicle is a rather gentle cocktail. With the softer foundation from a 70-proof flavored vodka, the original creamsicle shakes up to about 15 percent ABV (30 proof). That's a bit stronger than a glass of wine. You can lower the alcohol content by pouring more nonalcoholic mixers (the cream, juice, or soda) in any variation.
Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
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189 | Calories |
3g | Fat |
12g | Carbs |
1g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
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Servings: 1 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 189 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 3g | 4% |
Saturated Fat 2g | 11% |
Cholesterol 11mg | 4% |
Sodium 19mg | 1% |
Total Carbohydrate 12g | 5% |
Dietary Fiber 0g | 2% |
Total Sugars 11g | |
Protein 1g | |
Vitamin C 26mg | 129% |
Calcium 43mg | 3% |
Iron 0mg | 1% |
Potassium 131mg | 3% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |