Okay, here’s my take on sharing my Arby’s Orange Cream Shake ingredient experiment, blog-style:
Alright folks, buckle up! Today I’m spilling the beans on my quest to recreate the legendary Arby’s Orange Cream Shake. I’m talking a full-on deep dive into ingredients, process, and the glorious, creamy outcome. Let’s get started!
It all started with a craving. That sweet, tangy, nostalgic flavor hit me HARD. I needed that orange cream goodness, but Arby’s was just too far. So, naturally, I thought, “I can MAKE this!”
First things first: Research. I hit the internet, trying to piece together what exactly goes into this magical concoction. No official ingredient list, of course. But hey, that’s part of the fun, right?
- My initial thought was, it must be some kind of premade orange creamer base.
- Then I thought, it must be orange juice.
- Then I thought, maybe its orange extract mixed with something else?
After some deep thought, I decided on my baseline ingredients:
- Vanilla Ice Cream – Gotta have that creamy base. I went with a decent quality brand from the local grocery store.
- Orange Juice Concentrate – For that concentrated orange flavor kick.
- Heavy Cream – To make it extra thicc.
- Vanilla Extract – To boost the overall sweetness.
- A pinch of salt – balances everything out!
The Experiment Begins!
Batch 1: I started simple. I threw a couple of scoops of ice cream, a splash of orange juice concentrate, and a little heavy cream into my blender. Whizzed it up. Tasted it. Nope. Too icy, not enough orange.
Batch 2: Okay, more orange concentrate! Also, a bit more heavy cream. Blended again. Better, but still something was missing. It tasted kinda…flat. Like it lacked something that would bind it all together.
Batch 3: I had an epiphany. Vanilla extract! Added a splash of vanilla extract and a tiny pinch of salt. Bingo. The vanilla rounded out the orange, and the salt just brought out the sweetness. This tasted MUCH closer to the real deal.
Batch 4: This is where I started focusing on the texture. The flavor was close, but the texture was not quite the same. I ended up adding a bit more heavy cream and blending for a longer time to get it smooth and airy. Yes!
The Final Recipe (ish)!
Alright, after several rounds of experimentation, here’s what I landed on:
- 3 big scoops of vanilla ice cream
- 2-3 tablespoons of frozen orange juice concentrate (adjust to your taste)
- 1/4 cup of heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Here’s what I did:
- Put everything in a blender.
- Blend until smooth and creamy. Add more heavy cream if it’s too thick, more orange concentrate if you want more orange flavor.
- Pour into a glass.
- Enjoy immediately!
My honest review
Was it EXACTLY like Arby’s? Probably not. My copycat recipe was pretty dang close. And honestly, I kinda liked mine better! It felt fresher and less artificial.
Final Thoughts: This was a fun little experiment. I learned a few things about flavor balance and the importance of texture. And most importantly, I satisfied my craving for that nostalgic orange cream flavor. Now it is time to rest.
