Pear and toasted coconut cake with poached pears

Ingredients

• 180 g butter
• 1 cup caster sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla paste
• 1/2 cup desiccated coconut
• 225 g plain flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 2 medium ripe pears, peeled and diced
• 1/4 cup coconut flakes
• Poached pears
• 1 cup water
• 3/4 cup caster sugar
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2-3 sprigs fresh thyme
• 6 baby pears, peeled and cored, stalks left on
• Cream, yoghurt or ice cream, to serve