diff --git a/tensorflow_datasets/core/features/top_level_feature.py b/tensorflow_datasets/core/features/top_level_feature.py
index 14ba79a0ff3..2a9bb762909 100644
--- a/tensorflow_datasets/core/features/top_level_feature.py
+++ b/tensorflow_datasets/core/features/top_level_feature.py
@@ -15,6 +15,10 @@
 
 """Wrapper around FeatureDict to allow better control over decoding."""
 
+from typing import Union
+
+import tensorflow as tf
+from tensorflow_datasets.core import utils
 from tensorflow_datasets.core.features import feature as feature_lib
 
 
@@ -28,7 +32,7 @@ class TopLevelFeature(feature_lib.FeatureConnector):
   eventually better support for augmentations.
   """
 
-  def decode_example(self, serialized_example, decoders=None):
+  def decode_example(self, serialized_example, *, decoders=None):
     # pylint: disable=line-too-long
     """Decode the serialize examples.
 
@@ -69,6 +73,54 @@ def decode_example(self, serialized_example, decoders=None):
     nested_decoded = self._nest(flatten_decoded)
     return nested_decoded
 
+  def serialize_example(self, example_data) -> bytes:
+    """Encodes nested data values into `tf.train.Example` bytes.
+
+    See `deserialize_example` to decode the proto into `tf.Tensor`.
+
+    Args:
+      example_data: Example data to encode (numpy-like nested dict)
+
+    Returns:
+      The serialized `tf.train.Example`.
+    """
+    example_data = self.encode_example(example_data)
+    return self._example_serializer.serialize_example(example_data)
+
+  def deserialize_example(
+      self,
+      serialized_example: Union[tf.Tensor, bytes],
+      *,
+      decoders=None,
+  ) -> utils.TensorDict:
+    """Decodes the `tf.train.Example` data into `tf.Tensor`.
+
+    See `serialize_example` to encode the data into proto.
+
+    Args:
+      serialized_example: The tensor-like object containing the serialized
+        `tf.train.Example` proto.
+      decoders: Eventual decoders to apply (see
+        [documentation](https://www.tensorflow.org/datasets/decode))
+
+    Returns:
+      The decoded features tensors.
+    """
+    example_data = self._example_parser.parse_example(serialized_example)
+    return self.decode_example(example_data, decoders=decoders)
+
+  @utils.memoized_property
+  def _example_parser(self):
+    from tensorflow_datasets.core import example_parser  # pytype: disable=import-error  # pylint: disable=g-import-not-at-top
+    example_specs = self.get_serialized_info()
+    return example_parser.ExampleParser(example_specs)
+
+  @utils.memoized_property
+  def _example_serializer(self):
+    from tensorflow_datasets.core import example_serializer  # pytype: disable=import-error  # pylint: disable=g-import-not-at-top
+    example_specs = self.get_serialized_info()
+    return example_serializer.ExampleSerializer(example_specs)
+
 
 def _decode_feature(feature, example, serialized_info, decoder):
   """Decode a single feature."""
diff --git a/tensorflow_datasets/core/utils/type_utils.py b/tensorflow_datasets/core/utils/type_utils.py
index 309cd487c44..163063055e5 100644
--- a/tensorflow_datasets/core/utils/type_utils.py
+++ b/tensorflow_datasets/core/utils/type_utils.py
@@ -45,6 +45,9 @@
 
 Tensor = Union[tf.Tensor, tf.SparseTensor, tf.RaggedTensor]
 
+# Nested dict of tensor
+TensorDict = TreeDict[Tensor]
+
 Dim = Optional[int]
 Shape = TupleOrList[Dim]
 
diff --git a/tensorflow_datasets/testing/feature_test_case.py b/tensorflow_datasets/testing/feature_test_case.py
index 4987e4d9dd3..c6abc62014a 100644
--- a/tensorflow_datasets/testing/feature_test_case.py
+++ b/tensorflow_datasets/testing/feature_test_case.py
@@ -16,17 +16,15 @@
 """Test case util to test `tfds.features.FeatureConnector`."""
 
 import contextlib
+import dataclasses
 import functools
 from typing import Any, Optional, Type
 
-import dataclasses
 import dill
 import numpy as np
 import tensorflow.compat.v2 as tf
 
 from tensorflow_datasets.core import dataset_utils
-from tensorflow_datasets.core import example_parser
-from tensorflow_datasets.core import example_serializer
 from tensorflow_datasets.core import features
 from tensorflow_datasets.core import utils
 from tensorflow_datasets.testing import test_case
@@ -345,23 +343,14 @@ def _test_repr(
 
 def features_encode_decode(features_dict, example, decoders):
   """Runs the full pipeline: encode > write > tmp files > read > decode."""
-  # Encode example
-  encoded_example = features_dict.encode_example(example)
-
   # Serialize/deserialize the example
-  specs = features_dict.get_serialized_info()
-  serializer = example_serializer.ExampleSerializer(specs)
-  parser = example_parser.ExampleParser(specs)
+  serialized_example = features_dict.serialize_example(example)
 
-  serialized_example = serializer.serialize_example(encoded_example)
-  ds = tf.data.Dataset.from_tensors(serialized_example)
-  ds = ds.map(parser.parse_example)
-
-  # Decode the example
   decode_fn = functools.partial(
-      features_dict.decode_example,
+      features_dict.deserialize_example,
       decoders=decoders,
   )
+  ds = tf.data.Dataset.from_tensors(serialized_example)
   ds = ds.map(decode_fn)
 
   if tf.executing_eagerly():