A machine for dispensing an individual portion of a frozen dessert, the machine comprising: a cartridge cart having a longitudinal central axis (α) and configured to accommodate a cartridge including a tube having first and second ends (5a, 5b), a nozzle disposed at the first end, a piston disposed between the nozzle and the second end and configured to slidably move along the tube, the frozen dessert contained within the tube between the nozzle and the piston; a plunger mounted for movement of the cartridge cart relative to the plunger along the central axis; a drive source operably coupled to the cartridge cart and configured to drive the cartridge cart along the central axis to engage the plunger; a support configured to support the first end of the cartridge with the plunger in engagement with the piston such that, with the tube radially supported by the cartridge cart and axially supported by the support, actuating the drive source causes at least some of the frozen dessert to dispense through the nozzle as the individual portion; a cup position mechanism configured to support and transport a cup provided to receive the individual portion of the frozen dessert dispensed, wherein the cup position mechanism is configured to lift the cup from a home position to one or more dispense positions; wherein the plunger includes an elastomeric ring disposed between an upper plunger portion and a lower plunger portion, the upper plunger portion having a first surface that engages the elastomeric ring, and the lower plunger portion having a second surface that engages the elastomeric ring, the upper plunger portion and the lower plunger portion resiliently connected with a gap therebetween such that, upon the plunger engaging the piston, the upper plunger portion and the lower plunger portion are urged towards each other to at least partially close the gap and the first surface and the second surface are urged towards each other axially compressing the elastomeric ring thereby causing the elastomeric ring to expand radially outwards against an inner wall of the piston, thereby forcing an outer wall of the piston against a bore of the cartridge thereby promoting sealing between the piston and the bore of the cartridge thereby preventing leakage of the frozen dessert therebetween. a cartridge cart having a longitudinal central axis (α) and configured to accommodate a cartridge including a tube having first and second ends (5a, 5b), a nozzle disposed at the first end, a piston disposed between the nozzle and the second end and configured to slidably move along the tube, the frozen dessert contained within the tube between the nozzle and the piston; a plunger mounted for movement of the cartridge cart relative to the plunger along the central axis; a drive source operably coupled to the cartridge cart and configured to drive the cartridge cart along the central axis to engage the plunger; a support configured to support the first end of the cartridge with the plunger in engagement with the piston such that, with the tube radially supported by the cartridge cart and axially supported by the support, actuating the drive source causes at least some of the frozen dessert to dispense through the nozzle as the individual portion; a cup position mechanism configured to support and transport a cup provided to receive the individual portion of the frozen dessert dispensed, wherein the cup position mechanism is configured to lift the cup from a home position to one or more dispense positions; wherein the plunger includes an elastomeric ring disposed between an upper plunger portion and a lower plunger portion, the upper plunger portion having a first surface that engages the elastomeric ring, and the lower plunger portion having a second surface that engages the elastomeric ring, the upper plunger portion and the lower plunger portion resiliently connected with a gap therebetween such that, upon the plunger engaging the piston, the upper plunger portion and the lower plunger portion are urged towards each other to at least partially close the gap and the first surface and the second surface are urged towards each other axially compressing the elastomeric ring thereby causing the elastomeric ring to expand radially outwards against an inner wall of the piston, thereby forcing an outer wall of the piston against a bore of the cartridge thereby promoting sealing between the piston and the bore of the cartridge thereby preventing leakage of the frozen dessert therebetween.