Easy Orange Creamsicle Dessert - Made With Yogurt

Orange Creamsicle dessert is layered yogurt with a vanilla wafer or graham cracker crust. One of the best things about this dessert is that it’s simple to make, and it tastes great. Orange is a flavor that just screams summer to me. I love that this dessert is so refreshing and takes minutes literally to make. 

I plan to spend my entire summer by the pool this year. I’m going to call this summer my summer to recover. It’s been a tough year. This Orange Creamsicle dessert is going to taste so good while I’m sitting poolside.

When I was growing up, every summer weekend, my siblings and I would spend our days outside waiting for the ice cream truck to drive by. I remember that I always wanted one of the ice cream bars with the chocolate crunch on the outside.

My sister, however, always wanted an Orange Creamsicle. She loved anything Orange flavored. What I wouldn’t give to go back to those slow summer days of playing in the sprinkler waiting on an ice cream truck to roll by. 

Considering how popular Orange Creamsicle ice cream bars are, I just knew that I had to develop a treat that my family would enjoy.

I feel like by making this dessert with yogurt that at least my family is getting something healthy out of it, even if it is only a little probiotics. At least that’s what we moms can tell ourselves, right?

History of Creamsicle

When I am researching a recipe, I learn so much information. I feel like I would be a pro at food trivia. Sometimes I discover fascinating facts that I just want to share with you.

This time when I was researching this Orange Creamsicle Dessert, I learned something that surprised me, and I just could wait to share it with you. 

Creamsicle is a frozen dessert that was initially invented by Frank Eppperson. He created that yummy dessert in 1905. The original dessert that he made was a vanilla ice cream layer with frozen fruit juice on top.

Did you know that Frank was 11 years old when he invented what he called the “epsicle” and what we now call the Dreamsicle or Creamsicle? 

What is orange creamsicle dessert

My creamsicle dessert is a layered dessert made of three different ingredients. The best part is you most likely already have some of these ingredients in your fridge and pantry.

For the crunchy part of your dessert, you will need some Nilla or vanilla wafers. If you don’t have vanilla wafers on hand, you can use graham crackers. You will need to crush your graham crackers or vanilla wafers. 

I like to use my food processor because it gives me a fine and smooth crushed cookie or cracker. If you do not have a food processor or just don’t feel like pulling yours out and having to clean it.

You can place your vanilla wafers or graham crackers into a storage bag and use a spoon or rolling pin to crush them quickly. No matter which method you choose for crushing your crackers or wafers, you will have great results. 

Can I freeze this Orange Creamsicle 

Technically, yes, you can freeze this Orange Creamsicle dessert. However, I personally do not recommend it. The yogurt can change texture while it's frozen. It’s really best if you use fresh yogurt for this recipe.

You will need two different types of yogurt to make this delicious dessert. Vanilla yogurt mixes well with the Orange Cream yogurt to make an Orange Creamsicle dessert in a bowl. 

Can I make this dessert ahead

Yes, you can absolutely make this creamy dessert ahead. I find that it’s best to make this dessert up to 24 hours in advance. There’s no need to worry about it going bad. It will be just fine in your fridge for even a couple of days. The only thing that I will change is that your vanilla wafers or graham crackers can get soggy.

So, if you are making your dessert ahead, I suggest sprinkling them on the top when you are ready to serve. Or layering your dessert right at serving to prevent the soggy graham crackers or vanilla wafers.

What is a vanilla wafer

Nilla Wafers is a brand of vanilla wafers made by the Nabisco company. Nilla wafers are essentially a slightly sweet vanilla cookie. This wafer style cookie I personally consider the middle ground between a cracker and a cookie.

The name Nilla was changed to Nilla from Vanilla in 1967. The change was to just shorten the name. 

 When Nilla wafers were first created, they were a round, thin, and light wafer cookie. The ingredients used to make them were flour, sugar, shortening, eggs, and of course, vanilla.

At the time, Nilla wafers were made with natural vanilla extract. Now, they are flavored with a synthetic vanilla extract. I grew up eating Nilla wafers. My mom used to put softened butter on top of a vanilla wafer and eat it. 

How should I serve Orange Creamsicle

I like to serve my Orange Creamsicle yogurt in small glasses. I used a non-footed cordial glass. You can use any type of bowl or glass that you have. I like to use a small glass with a wider top.

If you are feeding this Orange Creamsicle yogurt dessert to kids, you can use plastic cups. I like to use small 8 oz clear plastic cups. They still look great, but I don’t have to worry about them breaking.

What should I use to top this dessert

There are several different ways to top this decadent dessert, and you change the toppings to suit your needs. Here are some of my favorite items to use to top the dessert.

• Whipped cream - fresh or store bought.
• Mint sprigs
• Sliced Orange
• Dried Orange
• Gummy Orange
• Orange zest
• Vanilla wafer
• Crushed graham cracker

What type of crunchy item should I use 

I used vanilla wafers because I think they are so delicious. If you do not like vanilla wafers or if you do not have any on hand, you can use graham crackers.

Graham crackers bring a slight cinnamon flavor to this that is just extra tasty. Whether you decide to use graham crackers or vanilla wafers, you won’t be disappointed with the taste of this Orange Creamsicle dessert.

Where do I buy Orange Cream Yogurt

I purchased my Orange Cream yogurt in the dairy aisle at my local grocery store. If you have a smaller grocery store that doesn’t carry a large variety of items, check the dairy department of your local big box store.

You should be able to find orange cream yogurt there. I personally like the Yoplait brand. However, any brand that your store has will turn out great. 

Ingredients for Orange Creamsicle Dessert 

• mini Nilla (vanilla) Wafer cookies or graham cracker crumbs
• vanilla yogurt
• orange cream yogurt
• Optional extra toppings – whole mini Nilla Wafer cookies, whipped cream, mint for garnish 

How to Make Orange Creamsicle Dessert 

Step 1. Place 2 cups of Nilla Wafer cookies in a resealable bag and crush until small and crumbled. 

Step 2. Fill desired cup ⅓ full of the crumbled cookies

Step 3. Using a small spoon, place the vanilla yogurt in each cup, filling ⅔ of the cup.

Step 4. Complete the parfait by filling the last ⅓ of the cup with the orange cream yogurt. 

Step 5. Garnish with additional cookie crumbles, whole cookies, whipped topping, and mint.

Notes 

1. Yoplait has a delicious orange cream yogurt.
2. You can swap out the Nilla Wafers for regular graham crackers if desired. 
3. This recipe can be made ahead of time, if desired, but wait to put the final toppings on until right before you serve. 
4. Regular, smooth yogurt works best for this recipe.
5. This is a great recipe for kids to prepare! 

Now that you have made this tasty treat. It’s time to grab a spoon and dig in. This Orange Creamsicle will be a huge hit with all your family and friends. 

Other delicious recipes to try

•  Orange Julius popsicles 
• Cool Orange Snowballs
• Lemon cream cheese bundt cake 
• Easy Lemon Cheesecake