Morir Soñando – A Refreshing Dominican Summer Drink

Morir Soñando is an uber refreshing and tasty Dominican summer juice. It is easy to make if you follow the steps I have laid out precisely.

This juice is perfect for any occasion. You can make it for breakfast or lunch, birthday parties, weddings, picnics, and you can even make it boozy for a cocktail night! Serve it alongside my delicious Dominican Torrejas De Berenjenas. So, read on to learn how I make this delicious Dominican orange and milk juice.

What Is Morir Soñando?

Morir Soñando is a refreshing traditional Dominican milk and orange juice I grew up having every summer. Unlike most juice recipes out there, this one is uniquely Dominican.

The name “Morir Soñando” directly translates to “to die dreaming.”

The milk (or milk substitute) gives it an uber creamy consistency. The orange juice adds a fresh sweet, tangy flavor. And, with other additional flavoring ingredients (like sugar and vanilla), you get the perfect refreshing creamy drink! 

This traditional Dominican juice is best-served during the spring and summer months. But, it is a great year-round option for any occasion. Because it is so quick to make, many people also love serving it at dinners, birthday parties, and even weddings!

What Do You Need To Make Morir Soñando?

Traditionally, regular milk is used to make this recipe. But I like to make mine with evaporated milk, just like my grandmother did. It adds a ton more creaminess to the drink and a thicker consistency. And it still tastes just like milk!

You can also use some other substitutes for evaporated and regular milk.

Then, the second hero ingredient is orange juice. I always recommend using freshly squeezed orange juice – even if you have to press some by hand! It has the most authentic flavor, doesn’t contain any artificial ingredients, and will add some texture (if you like pulp).

You can still use store-bought orange juice. If you want a healthy drink, buy a product with the highest “real” or “authentic” juice percentage. Most of these juices are made with apple juice and flavored with orange extract.

Besides those ingredients, I only add some vanilla extract and sugar. You don’t have to add sugar as a sweetener, but it dissolves the best. If you use syrups, the ice won’t allow them to merge with the drink. The syrup will solidify and float around your juice.

How Do You Make Morir Soñando?

Making this Dominican Morir Soñando recipe is incredibly easy. All you need to do is mix the ingredients in a specific order. Otherwise, the acids in the citrus juice will cause the dairy base to curdle.

First, I combine the chilled evaporated milk, sugar, and vanilla. This way, the flavoring ingredients blend with the thickest element in the recipe first. And even more importantly, the sugar will help prevent the dairy from curdling.

The chilled milk also helps prevent curdling. So, no matter which substitute you use for milk, always ensure it’s cold.

Next, pour it into a glass with some ice, followed by fresh orange juice. It’s as easy as that!

Variations Of This Milk And Orange Juice Recipe

The biggest variation for this healthy Dominican juice recipe is the type of dairy ingredient you use. As I mentioned before, I use evaporated milk instead of regular milk.

If you do use milk, always use full-fat or full-cream milk. These will add the best flavor and texture to the drink. 

Another variation for a dairy ingredient is condensed milk, which is extremely sweet, thick, and creamy. This option is delicious, but you need to remove the sugar from the recipe otherwise it will be too sweet. Also, use about half the amount of condensed milk than evaporated milk in my recipe.

Some people like to use a different type of citrus juice. You can, but then it won’t be authentic Morir Soñando. So, stick with orange juice instead. And choose a high-quality one for the best flavor.

You can alter the texture of this recipe by adjusting the amount of pulp the orange juice has. If you have a very pulpy juice, first strain it. Then, add some pulp back until you are happy with the amount.

And finally, you can turn this drink into a cocktail. Add any type of white spirit that you’d like. Just make sure it’s unflavored. This way, it won’t take away from the flavor of the orange and milk combination.

FAQs

Why is it called Morir Soñando?

While the name is a bit morbid, no one can deny its deliciousness. Morir Soñando is the official Dominican summer juice. There isn’t an exact reason it’s called “to die dreaming.” I guess it’s just one of the many funny Dominican recipe names.

What Does Morir Soñando Taste Like?

This drink has a noticeably sweet flavor overall. You can adjust it by adding more or less sugar. And, of course, if you use sweetened dairy products, it will be sweeter than my recipe. It has definitive flavors of milk and orange, with an undertone of vanilla.

Is this Morir Soñando drink unhealthy?

It depends on what the definition of unhealthy is for you. This drink isn’t necessarily low in sugar. Orange juice contains natural sugars. Even though they may be healthier than artificial sugar, at the end of the day, they still affect your body. But, orange juice and dairy also have a ton of nutritional benefits. So, I wouldn’t say it’s unhealthy. But everything in moderation is best.

Can you use Tang juice mix to make this Dominican orange and milk juice recipe?

I don’t recommend it. Tang is only orange-flavored. It doesn’t have the nutritional benefits, correct texture, or authentic flavor that this drink needs.

More Summer Drink Recipes

LEMON-ORANGE LEMONADE

Agua De Fresa Con Leche

PASSION FRUIT LEMONADE

Agua De Pepino Y Limon