Battr guides
Gelato and ice cream are both frozen desserts made from dairy, sugar and air, but gelato uses more milk and less cream, so it has less fat; it's churned more slowly, so it holds less air and is denser; and it's served warmer than ice cream (Healthline puts gelato around 12°F and ice cream around 0°F), so it's softer and silkier on the spoon. In the US, anything sold as ice cream must contain at least 10% milkfat by weight. There's no federal standard for gelato.
At Battr in Cleveland, gelato is $6 for a junior, $8 for a regular (two scoops) and $10 for a large (three scoops), or built into a bubble waffle or crepe cone, at our Tremont and Lakewood shops.
Last updated · By the Battr team, Cleveland
| Gelato | Ice cream (US) | |
|---|---|---|
| Dairy | More milk, less cream | More cream |
| Fat | Lower | At least 10% milkfat by law |
| Egg yolks | Few or none (recipes vary) | Often, in custard styles |
| Air | Less — churned slowly | More — churned faster |
| Texture | Dense and silky | Lighter and fluffier |
| Served at | Warmer (about 12°F per Healthline) | Colder (about 0°F) |
| US legal standard | None | 21 CFR 135.110 |
It starts from a different base. Gelato leans on milk rather than cream and usually uses few or no egg yolks, both of which add fat to custard-style ice cream. US ice cream has a legal floor: the FDA's standard of identity requires at least 10% milkfat, at least 1.6 pounds of total solids per gallon, and a weight of at least 4.5 pounds per gallon. Gelato has no equivalent federal definition.
Air. Both are churned as they freeze, and churning whips air into the mix. Ice cream is churned faster and holds more air, which makes it lighter. Gelato is churned more slowly, so less air goes in and each spoonful carries more of the actual dessert.
Two reasons. It's denser, so there's more flavor per bite. And it's served warmer than ice cream, so it's softer and doesn't numb your tongue the way a harder, colder scoop does.
Gelato is traditionally lower in fat, but both are high in sugar, so neither is a health food. If you're comparing brands, the nutrition label on the specific product is the only reliable answer.
Battr scoops artisan Italian gelato at Battr Tremont (910 Literary Road, Cleveland) and Battr Lakewood (15000 Detroit Avenue). Order it on its own, in a waffle cone (+$1), built into a bubble waffle or crepe cone ($13), or blended into a gelato shake ($8). Flavors in our signature builds include vanilla, Belgian dark chocolate, salted caramel, cookies and cream, and butterscotch. See the gelato menu for sizes and add-ons.
910 Literary Road, Cleveland
15000 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood
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Visit Battr, and indulge in the ultimate dessert experience.
Two shops in the Cleveland area, both making the full menu to order. Give us a call, or find the one nearest you.
Questions, catering or press? Contact us.
