In a shallow wide bowl or pie dish large enough to hold a slice of bread, crack and lightly beat the 3 large eggs until blended. Whisk in 3 tablespoons whole milk and 2 tablespoons heavy cream until smooth. Add 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon and a pinch of fine salt. Whisk again until sugar is dissolved and mixture is homogeneous.

Soak bread

Arrange the 3 thick Texas-style slices on a plate. One at a time, place a slice into the custard and let it soak about 15–20 seconds per side, pressing gently so the custard soaks into the center but does not make the bread fall apart. Lift and let excess drip back into the bowl. Place soaked slices on a clean plate while you finish soaking the others.

Heat pan

Place a large nonstick or cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon unsalted butter and 1 teaspoon neutral oil (the oil raises the butter's smoke point) to the pan. Let butter melt and foam but not brown; swirl to coat the surface. Reduce heat slightly if butter begins to brown too quickly.

Cook slices

Add 1–2 soaked bread slices to the hot skillet without overcrowding, leaving space to flip. Cook for 3–4 minutes on the first side until deep golden brown and crisp. Flip carefully with a spatula and cook 2–3 minutes more on the second side until golden and cooked through. If the pan looks dry between batches, add the remaining 1 tablespoon butter and a touch more oil before cooking the last slice. Total cook time per slice should be 5–7 minutes depending on thickness and stove.

Keep warm

If making all three slices sequentially, keep cooked slices warm on a baking sheet in a 200°F (95°C) oven while finishing the rest so they stay crisp and hot.

Finish and serve

Transfer the three cooked French toast slices to a serving plate. Lightly dust the tops with 2 tablespoons powdered sugar using a fine-mesh sieve or sifter so the sugar is evenly distributed. Serve immediately with maple syrup (about 4 tablespoons) on the side or drizzled over the toast. Optionally add fresh fruit, a pat of butter, or whipped cream.