DIY String Cheese Dog Treats: Crispy, Cheesy, and Made with Love

Looking for a crunchy, clean, and budget-friendly way to treat your dog? 🧀 You’re going to love this one-ingredient recipe: crispy string cheese dog treats! These little bites are light,...

Garrett Scanlon
5 min read

Looking for a crunchy, clean, and budget-friendly way to treat your dog? 🧀 You’re going to love this one-ingredient recipe: crispy string cheese dog treats!

These little bites are light, crunchy, full of protein, and take less than 30 minutes to make. Perfect as a training reward, daily snack, or kibble topper, these homemade dog cheese crisps are a fun way to show your dog some love without breaking the bank or compromising on quality.

And the best part? You can make over 80 treats for under $1 using a single stick or two of plain string cheese.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the full how-to, the nutritional perks of cheese for dogs, and even ways to upgrade your crisps with Doggie Dental™ by Other Half for extra oral health support.

Let’s get started!

🧀 Why Use String Cheese?

String cheese, especially low-moisture, part-skim mozzarella, is:

  • Naturally high in protein

  • A good source of calcium

  • Easy to handle, portion, and bake

  • Typically lower in fat and lactose than other cheeses

It’s also universally loved by dogs, thanks to its creamy texture, mild taste, and fun-to-chew consistency. When baked, it transforms into light, crispy morsels that are perfect for training or snacking.

Just make sure to choose plain, unseasoned string cheese, ideally labeled:

  • “Low-moisture”

  • “Part-skim”

  • “Mozzarella”

Avoid cheese with added herbs, garlic, onion, spices, or high-fat varieties.

🍴 What You’ll Need

These cheese crisps are ridiculously easy to make. Here’s everything required:

🛒 Ingredients:

  • 1–2 sticks of plain string cheese (low-moisture, part-skim mozzarella only)

🧑🍳 Tools:

  • Baking sheet

  • Parchment paper or silicone baking mat

  • Sharp knife or small cookie cutter

  • Oven

Optional add-ons:

🔥 How to Make Crispy String Cheese Dog Treats

Ready to bake? These steps are quick and foolproof.

Step-by-Step:

1️⃣ Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
This temperature helps the cheese crisp without burning or melting too fast.

2️⃣ Slice your string cheese.
Using a sharp knife, cut the cheese into small disks about ¼ inch thick.
👉 Want to get fancy? Use a mini cookie cutter for hearts, stars, or bone shapes!

3️⃣ Line your baking sheet.
Use parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.

4️⃣ Space out the pieces.
Place cheese slices evenly on the tray, giving each about 1 inch of space. They’ll expand and puff slightly during baking.

5️⃣ Bake for 25 minutes.
The cheese should look golden brown and slightly bubbly. If they’re not fully crispy, you can flip and bake for an additional 2–3 minutes.

6️⃣ Let cool completely.
This is key! Cooling helps them crisp up further. Once cool, they’ll be crunchy, cheesy perfection.

🧂 Optional: Upgrade with Doggie Dental™

Want to turn your treats into functional oral health snacks?

Once your treats are completely cool, lightly dust them with Doggie Dental™; a bacon-flavored, vet-formulated oral health powder that helps:

  • Fight bad breath

  • Break down plaque and tartar

  • Support the oral microbiome

  • Improve gum health

Just 1 scoop per batch adds a savory taste dogs love and delivers science-backed dental benefits with every crunch.

And since Doggie Dental™ is 100% human-grade and clean-label, it’s safe and delicious to sprinkle on after baking, no weird additives or chemicals here.

🧠 Why These Treats Work

There are a million dog treat recipes online, but this one stands out because it’s:

✅ One-Ingredient Simplicity

No fillers, preservatives, or long ingredient lists. You know exactly what your dog is eating.

✅ Protein-Rich

Mozzarella is about 7g of protein per ounce. It’s a lean, satisfying way to reward your pup.

✅ Crispy and Crunchy

Great for food-motivated dogs and ideal for training. They break cleanly and don’t crumble like many store-bought biscuits.

✅ Portion-Friendly

At 1/4 inch per piece, you can make over 40–80 treats per cheese stick—meaning you control calories while still feeling generous.

✅ Budget Gold

Let’s say a 12-pack of string cheese costs $3. That’s $0.25 per stick = over 80 tiny treats for less than $1. Compare that to a $10 bag of crunchy treats? No contest.

💡 Creative Ways to Serve

  • As training rewards

  • Tucked into a snuffle mat or puzzle toy

  • Crushed and sprinkled on kibble

  • Frozen into a pup-sicle mix

  • Given alongside meals for added crunch

You can even sandwich two together with a tiny smear of pumpkin purée or peanut butter for a mini dog “cheese cracker.”

🧊 Storage Tips

To keep your treats fresh, store them in:

🏠 At Room Temperature:

  • In an airtight container

  • 3–5 days max

🧊 In the Fridge:

  • 7–14 days in a sealed container

  • Great for humid climates

❄️ In the Freezer:

  • Store for up to 2 months

  • Pop into a zip-top bag and defrost one or two as needed

They can also be served straight from the freezer for a refreshing summer snack!

⚠️ Safety Tips and FAQ

Q: Can all dogs eat cheese?
A: Most dogs tolerate low-lactose cheeses like mozzarella well. However, if your dog is lactose intolerant or has a history of pancreatitis or digestive issues, consult your vet before serving dairy treats.

Q: How many cheese crisps can I give per day?
A: Limit cheese treats to about 10% of your dog’s daily caloric intake. Small dogs may enjoy 1-2 per day, while large dogs can have 3-4.

Q: What if my cheese melts into puddles instead of crisps?
A: Use low-moisture, part-skim mozzarella only. Full-fat or high-moisture cheeses will melt instead of crisp.

Q: Can I bake them in an air fryer?
A: Yes! Try 8-10 minutes at 350°F in a preheated air fryer, flipping halfway.

🦷 Bonus: Why Oral Health Matters

Let’s be honest, brushing your dog’s teeth isn’t always easy. Most dogs resist the toothbrush, and even brushing regularly doesn’t always get the job done.

That’s where Doggie Dental™ comes in.

🌿 What Makes It Special:

  • First-of-its-kind Canine Oral-Health Postbiotic (COHP)

  • Clinically tested to reduce bad breath and plaque-forming bacteria

  • Disrupts oral biofilms by 98% in vitro

  • 100% human-grade, clean-label ingredients

  • Safe for daily use

By dusting your cheese crisps with Doggie Dental™, you turn a treat into a functional dental care tool your dog will actually enjoy. Check Doggie Dental™ out here.

No more toothbrush battles. Just tail wags.

🧡 Final Wags: One Cheese Stick = Endless Possibilities

Dog treats don’t need to be complicated or expensive. With just one stick of string cheese and a little baking time, you can create:

  • Dozens of delicious, high-protein snacks

  • A training reward your dog will love

  • A crunchy kibble topper

  • A dental-friendly treat with Doggie Dental™

So the next time you’re making something for your dog, skip the mystery treats and give them something homemade, wholesome, and made with love!

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