Gelato (; plural:
gelati ) is the Italian word for "ice cream", derived from the Latin word
gelatus (meaning "frozen"). In English this word commonly refers to varieties of ice cream made in an Italian style. Gelato can be made with
milk,
cream, various
sugars, and flavoring such as fresh
fruit and
nut purees. Gelato contains a relatively small amount of air. By statute, gelato in
Italy must have at least 3.5 utterfat. It is generally lower in fat, but higher in sugar than other styles of
ice cream. Gelato typically contains less air and more flavoring than other kinds of frozen desserts, giving it a density and richness that distinguishes it from the others.