Gelato is the Italian word for ice cream, and there are actually many differences between them! Real gelato is made freshly without any preservatives or artificial colors. Ice cream packs more sugar and cream, which translates to a higher fat content. Gelato is much silkier in texture, creamier and a bit denser than ice cream. That's down to how it's made: gelato is churned at a slower speed than ice cream, so it has less air in the mixture than ice cream. Traditionally the ice cream is served with a scoop while the real gelato is served with a spade, a flatter spoon that looks like a spatula.