Orange Creamsicle Cocktail

Written by
Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham is a cocktail expert, professional bartender, and cookbook author with over 10 years of experience in the food-writing world.
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Colleen Graham
Updated 11/10/20
Orange Creamsicle Cocktail
The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios
Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
333 Calories
18g Fat
34g Carbs
6g Protein
See Full Nutritional Guidelines Hide Full Nutritional Guidelines
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 333
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 18g 23%
Saturated Fat 13g 64%
Cholesterol 41mg 14%
Sodium 102mg 4%
Total Carbohydrate 34g 12%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Protein 6g
Calcium 164mg 13%
*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 sweet, creamy, orange flavor. You can enjoy it as a sweet cocktail or martini, a boozy float, a blended drink, or a tempting shot. They all have three things in common: vodka, orange (either juice or soda), and cream (cream, ice cream, or cream liqueur). However you choose to make it, it's sure to be delicious.

This recipe is a great use for vanilla vodka, which was the only sweet vodka 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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Ingredients

  • 1/2 ounce​ ​triple sec
  • 1 1/2 ounces vanilla or whipped cream vodka
  • 1​ ounce ​orange juice
  • 1​ ounce half and half
  • Garnish: orange slice

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for an Orange Creamsicle Cocktail
    The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios

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

    Mixing an Orange Creamsicle Cocktail
    The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios

  3. Shake well.

    Shaking an Orange Creamsicle Cocktail
    The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios

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

    Straining an Orange Creamsicle Cocktail
    The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios

  5. Garnish with an orange slice. Serve and enjoy.

    Orange Creamsicle Cocktail
    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. 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. You can also make creamsicle jello shots.
  • 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.