Orange Creamsicle Cocktail

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 03/3/22
Tested by
Sean Michael Johnson
Photo of Sean Michael Johnson
Tested by Sean Michael Johnson
Sean is an award-winning bartender with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He is the head bartender at the two-Michelin-star restaurant, Gabriel Kreuther, crafting cocktail menus that have caught international attention. To date, he has made over 1 million cocktails, and counting.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Orange creamsicle cocktail in a glass with orange slice garnish

The Spruce / S&C Design Studios
Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
189 Calories
3g Fat
12g Carbs
1g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
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.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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.

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“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

Orange Creamsicle Shot/Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 ounces vanilla or whipped cream vodka

  • 1/2 ounce triple sec

  • 1 ounce half-and-half

  • 1 ounce orange juice

  • Orange slice, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for an orange creamsicle cocktail

    The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

  2. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, pour the vodka, triple sec, half-and-half, and orange juice.

    Mixing an orange creamsicle cocktail

    The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

  3. Shake well.

    Shaking an orange creamsicle cocktail

    The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

  4. Strain into an old-fashioned glass filled with fresh ice.

    Straining an orange creamsicle cocktail

    The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

  5. Garnish with an orange slice and serve.

    Orange creamsicle cocktail with orange slice garnish

    The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

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.