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 02/4/23
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 Eats / 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 garnished with orange slice
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 orange creamsicle cocktail recipe gathered

    The Spruce Eats / 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 in a glass

    The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios

  3. Shake well.

    Orange creamsicle cocktail shaken and poured into a glass

    The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios

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

    Orange creamsicle cocktail strained into a glass with fresh ice

    The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios

  5. Garnish with an orange slice and serve.

    Orange creamsicle cocktail with orange slice garnish

    The Spruce Eats / 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.