I've got a crush on you! This is the Orange Crush recipe that will have you sipping and singing all summer long. It's made with fresh orange juice and sparkling water for a bright and fizzy summertime drink. I provide options in the recipe for how to make it refined sugar-free and gluten-free. Make it with or without alcohol for a delicious sip every time.
Have you ever had an Orange Crush before? My first was at Seacrets in Ocean City, MD and my life was forever changed. This is one of my favorite summertime cocktails! It's especially popular in Maryland, but beach towns all over now serve this bright drink and everyone loves them. This homemade Orange Crush recipe brings the feeling of a happy, sunny day right into your own kitchen/back yard! It's a fabulous adult beverage, but it's just as easy to make a non-alcoholic version for anyone who prefers that.
What is an Orange Crush?
This is a bright summertime cocktail that's just perfect for barbecues, lazy afternoons on the porch, or a warm evening. It's also just right for days when you want to feel like it's summertime! Orange Crushes are popular in beach towns all over and I love making this Maryland classic at home. It's an alcoholic drink made with fresh squeezed orange juice, sparkling water, orange-flavored vodka, and triple sec.
Ingredients in an Orange Crush
Get ready for a full dose of sunshine! I make this bright and sweet drink with lots of ice and:
- Fresh-squeezed orange juice - you'll need about 2 large Valencia oranges!
- Orange-flavored vodka - Mandarin works well too
- Triple sec
- Sparkling water - Use orange, tangerine, lemon, or lime flavored. Spindrift is my favorite!
- Freshly sliced oranges for garnish
How to Make a Virgin Orange Crush
My three kids LOVE the non-alcoholic version of this drink! They feel so special when they get to enjoy a fancy drink with the grown-ups. All I do is leave out the triple sec and vodka, so their drink is just fresh orange juice and sparkling water served over crushed ice with orange wedges. They love it!
All About Oranges
As we all know, oranges provide loads of immune-boosting vitamin C and that’s why it’s the main ingredient in this Orange Crush recipe! Evidence suggests that for some people, high doses of vitamin C might actually shorten a cold by as much as one and a half days. Yes please! In addition, vitamin C fights free radicals to prevent or delay certain cancers and heart disease. It is essential for the growth and repair of bodily tissues, helps heal wounds, and repairs and maintains healthy cartilage, bones, teeth and skin.
As always, this Orange Crush recipe is vegan, gluten-free, refined sugar-free, soy-free, and peanut-free. This one is also completely nut-free too. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do! If you give it a try, I would love to see your pictures. Tag them #eatingbyelaine on social media so I can see, and be sure to drop a review below!
More Summertime Drinks
Fresh & Classic Margaritas
Love Potion #9: Sparkling Cherry Spritzer
Grapefruit Vodka Tonic
Our Favorite Fresh Homemade Juices
Strawberry Mint Lime Spritzers
Watermelon Mint Lime Agua Fresca
Green Aid
Sunshine Smoothie
3-Ingredient Orange Creamsicle Smoothie
Best Orange Crush Recipe
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 2 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
I've got a crush on you! This is the Orange Crush recipe that will have you sipping and singing all summer long. It's made with fresh orange juice and sparkling water for a bright and fizzy summertime drink. I provide options in the recipe for how to make it refined sugar-free and gluten-free. Make it with or without alcohol for a delicious sip every time.
Ingredients
- 3 cups crushed ice cubes (for serving)
- 1 cup (8 ounces) fresh squeezed orange juice (from 2-3 large Valencia oranges)
- 3 shots (4.5 ounces) orange (or mandarin) flavored vodka (see notes for gluten-free recommendations)
- 1 shot (1.5 ounces) triple sec (omit for gluten-free and/or refined sugar-free)
- 1 can orange, tangerine or lemon/lime flavored sparkling water (I use Spindrift which is flavored naturally with real fruit juice)
- 1 cup cubed ice for cocktail shaker
- 1 small navel orange for garnish, sliced into ¼ inch wheels the then wedges from the wheels
Instructions
- Divide the crushed ice between the 2 glasses so each glass is about ¾ full of crushed ice.
- Add the orange juice, orange vodka and triple sec to a cocktail shaker filled with ice cubes. Shake well. Divide between the two glasses filled with crushed ice.
- Top off each glass with the orange sparkling water.
- Gently stir then garnish with navel orange slices. Serve and enjoy immediately.
Equipment
Premium Citrus Juicer - Manual Citrus Press and Orange Squeezer [use code ELAINE-10 for 10% off]
Buy Now →
Buy Now →
Notes
To make this a mocktail, simply omit the vodka and triple sec. Add more fresh squeezed orange juice or sparkling water in place of it.
To make this cocktail gluten-free use omit the triple sec and use one of these brand's of gluten-free vodka:
- Tito's Handmade Vodka
- Crystal Head Vodka
- Ciroc Vodka
- Grey Goose Vodka
- Cold River Vodka
- Ocean Vodka
- Dixie Vodka.
- Chopin Vodka
The classic orange crush recipe uses Sprite for fizz and added citrus flavor. To keep this recipe refined sugar-free, omit the Triple Sec and Sprite and use orange/mango, lemon or lime flavored Spindrift which is simply flavored with real fruit juice.
- Prep Time: 10
- Category: Cocktail
Keywords: orange crush recipe
Leave a Reply