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Orange Creamsicle Cocktail

Our Orange Creamsicle Cocktail is as easy to craft as it is to drink. But make no mistake – this decadent creamsicle drink is a boozy, grown-up version of the summertime ice cream treat.

Orange Creamsicle Cocktail Next to Blue Tiles
Image: ©2foodtrippers

Few of our childhood experiences beat the ones involving hot summer days and the magical sound of an ice cream truck approaching. Back then, our only stress was deciding among flavors like Creamsicles, Push-Up Pops and Rocket Popsicles. More often than not, we both chose Creamsicles.

While it’s been years since we’ve heard those distinctive music box chords, we get a thrill every time we create an Orange Creamsicle Cocktail at home. Not only does this adult beverage bring back happy memories, but the creamy, dreamy drink also tastes great.

History Of The Creamsicle

Creamsicle Stock Photo
If these frozen treats look familiar, then you’ve previously experienced a Creamsicle. | Image: mcgphoto /Depositphotos.com

It would be easy to confuse Creamsicles with Popsicles since both frozen treats have wooden stick handles… but that would be wrong. Popsicles are frozen juice bars while Creamsicles are made with vanilla ice cream and fruit-flavored sherbet.

The history of both ‘sicles’ goes back to 1905 when 11-year old Frank Epperson accidentally invented the iconic summertime frozen treat on a cold night. While Epperson’s Epsicle eventually got renamed to Popsicle, he didn’t invent the Creamsicle. That honor goes to the Good Humor Company who cornered the market on square-shaped, bright orange and white ice cream treats during the early 20th century.

After competing for decades, Good Humor and Popsicle joined forces after Unilever purchased the former in 1961 and the latter in 1989. The British-based company has become an ice cream juggernaut with additional brands that include Ben and Jerry’s, Cornetto, Magnum and Solero.

Fun Fact
Brits call their frozen treats Ice Lollies.

What Is An Orange Creamsicle Cocktail?

Orange Creamsicle Cocktail with Napkin and Orange
Not surprisingly, our Orange Creamsicle Cocktail is both creamy and orangey. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

The Orange Creamsicle Cocktail is a boozy, grown up version of the ice cream treat. Unlike the original Creamsicle which married vanilla ice cream with orange sherbet and put the combination on a stick, the cocktail version doesn’t typically contain either ice cream or sherbet.

Instead, most Orange Creamsicle Cocktail recipes include ingredients like vodka, vanilla vodka, whipped cream vodka, orange soda, heavy cream and whipped cream. Some are served on the rocks while others come frozen or in shot glasses.

Mindi Enjoys an Orange Creamsicle Cocktail
Drinking an Orange Creamsicle Cocktail at home makes Mindi happy. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

Our Orange Creamsicle recipe is different from any that we’ve seen online. It doesn’t have any of the ingredients mentioned above and it’s not frozen. To be honest, we tried using some of those ingredients but didn’t love the results.

Once we got creative, we crafted a unique Creamsicle drink recipe that we love and are proud to share not just during the summer but all year long.

Fun Fact
Popsicle fans celebrate National Creamsicle Day on August 14th each year. However, any day is a good day for a Creamsicle drink.

Ingredients

Orange Creamsicle Cocktail Ingredients
The required ingredients for our Orange Creamsicle Cocktail include low-fat milk, orange juice, orange triple sec liqueur, white chocolate vanilla cream liqueur and orange zest. Not pictured is the ice required to chill the cocktail during the shaking step. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

Although our Orange Creamsicle Cocktail isn’t a classical cocktail, it follows the classic cocktail model with its simple slate of ingredients:

  • Low-Fat Milk
  • Orange Juice
  • Orange Triple Sec Liqueur
  • Orange Zest
  • White Chocolate Vanilla Cream Liqueur
  • Ice Cubes (for shaking)

After experimenting with various ingredients, we like these ingredients best for our super-tasty adult version of the famous ice cream treat. As a bonus, we almost always have them in our kitchen and home bar.

Unlike other Orange Creamsicle Cocktail recipes, our recipe doesn’t include vodka. The only two required liquors are orange triple sec liqueur and white chocolate vanilla cream liqueur.

Mozart White Chocolate Liqueur and Cointreau bottles
We use Mozart and Cointreau liqueurs in our Orange Creamsicle cocktail recipe. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

We use Cointreau and Mozart White Chocolate Vanilla Cream since we love these two liqueurs and already have them in our bar. However, you could use other brands like Godiva and Grand Marnier if that’s what you have in your bar.

Mozart White Chocolate Vanilla Cream hails from Austria just like the namesake composer. The creamy, dreamy liqueur combines white chocolate with fresh cream, caramel and bourbon vanilla.

Cointreau is our go-to orange liqueur for cocktail recipes that call for orange liqueur or triple sec as well as for some that don’t. We like Cointreau’s balanced flavor. It has a 40% ABV.

Discover our favorite Cointreau cocktails.

How To Craft An Orange Creamsicle Cocktail

Measuring Cointreau with a Jigger
Measuring the four liquids is the first step in our Orange Creamsicle Cocktail recipe. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

Crafting our Orange Creamsicle Cocktail is as easy as drinking it. If you can pour and shake, then you can make this dessert-worthy drink!

The first step is to measure each liquid in a jigger.

Buy a Japanese jigger from Amazon if you need a jigger or want an inexpensive upgrade.

Measuring Mozart White Chocolate Liqueur with Jigger
We measure each liquid in a jigger to ensure accuracy. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

As you measure each liquid, you’ll want to pour it directly into a shaker.

Pouring Orange Juice into Shaker
After we measure the liquids, we pour each directly into a shaker. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

Once all four liquids are in the shaker, add ice cubes and shake until the liquids are combined and chilled.

Shaking Orange Creamsicle Cocktail
Mindi shakes her Orange Creamsicle cocktail vigorously in eager anticipation of the deliciousness that awaits her. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

We shake our cocktails with a Boston shaker. We previously alternated between a classic metal shaker and a pretty glass shaker, but they leaked which was both messy and annoying. Acquiring a Boston shaker has been nothing short of a mixology game-changer.

You’ll want to use a cocktail strainer when you pour the drink from the shaker into a martini glass. It will be frothy, creamy and ready to drink with one exception…

Straining Orange Creamsicle Cocktail into Glass
Our Orange Creamsicle Cocktail pours like a dream. Perhaps it should be called an Orange Dreamsicle Cocktail instead. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

The last step is to grate some fresh orange zest directly over the cocktail. We use a microplane to get a fine result.

Zesting an Orange
We zest our orange using a microplane, one of the great multitaskers in the kitchen. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

Orange zest adds an appealing texture that enhances the drink’s appearance and taste. You can skip this step if you don’t have a fresh orange on hand.

Orange Creamsicle Cocktail with Orang Juice, Milk and Orange
Once you add zest, the Orange Creamsicle Cocktail is done. All that’s left to do is sip and smile. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

That’s it. You’ll be surprised how quick and easy this drink is to craft at home. You’ll be even more surprised by how much this modern cocktail channels the spirit of an old-school Creamsicle.

Variations

Orange Creamsicle Cocktail Next to Brown Tiles
This is our favorite Orange Creamsicle Cocktail. Will it be yours too? | Image: ©2foodtrippers

We love this Orange Creamsicle Cocktail recipe; however, you may want to tweak it to make it your new favorite cocktail. If so, we suggest the following potential modifications:

  • Replace low-fat milk with whole milk or even cream if you want to craft an extra-creamy version.
  • Add simple syrup if you want to craft a sweeter version.
  • Add vodka to craft a boozier version.
  • Add a scoop of ice cream to create an Orange Creamsicle Cocktail Float.
  • Experiment with other fruit juices to create a potential rainbow of Creamsicle drinks.

Discover 10 essential bar tools for the home mixologist.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Orange Creamsicle cocktail?

The Orange Creamsicle cocktail is a boozy, grown up version of the frozen ice cream treat

What are the ingredients in a Orange Creamsicle cocktail?

There is no definitive Orange Creamsicle cocktail recipe. We use the following ingredients in our Orange Creamsicle cocktail recipe: Low-Fat Milk, Orange Juice, Orange Liqueur, Orange Zest, White Chocolate Vanilla Cream Liqueur and Ice Cubes (for shaking). We do not use vodka in our Orange Creamsicle cocktail recipe.

Is the Orange Creamsicle cocktail shaken or stirred?

The Orange Creamsicle is shaken, not stirred.

What type of glass is best for the Orange Creamsicle cocktail?

We like to serve this cocktail in a small martini glass but you could use a coupe glass instead.

Did you craft this cocktail? If so, please rate the recipe below.

Orange Creamsicle Cocktail Next to Brown Tiles
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4.49 from 45 votes

Orange Creamsicle Cocktail Recipe

This Orange Creamsicle cocktail is a boozy, grown-up version of the summertime ice cream treat.
Prep Time5 minutes
Total Time5 minutes
Course: Drink
Cuisine: Cocktail
Servings: 1
Calories: 293kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces orange juice
  • 2 ounces orange triple sec
  • 1 ounce low-fat milk
  • 1 ounce Godiva white chocolate liqueur
  • orange zest (garnish)
  • ice cubes (for shaking)

Instructions

  • Pour orange juice, orange triple sec, white chocolate liqueur and low-fat milk into a shaker.
  • Add ice and shake vigorously until ingredients are mixed and chilled.
  • Strain into a martini glass.
  • Garnish with orange zest.

Pro Tips

  • We use 2% low-fat milk but you can use skim or whole milk instead.
  • We use Cointreau but you can use a different orange triple sec instead.
  • You can use a lowball or coupe glass if you don’t have a martini glass.

Estimated Nutrition

Calories: 293kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 0.2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 16mg | Potassium: 175mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 169IU | Vitamin C: 28mg | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 0.1mg
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About The Authors

About The Authors

Daryl & Mindi Hirsch

Saveur Magazine’s BEST TRAVEL BLOG award winners Daryl and Mindi Hirsch share their culinary travel experiences and recipes on the 2foodtrippers website. Since launching the site in 2012, they’ve traveled to over 40 countries in their quest to bring readers their unique taste of the world.

Disclosures

Article Updates
We update our articles regularly. Some updates are major while others are minor link changes and spelling corrections. Let us know if you see anything that needs to be updated in this article.

Funding
We purchased the ingredients and tools used to craft this cocktail.

Original Publication Date: April 7, 2021

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