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The home side looked leg weary after their European exploits in midweek, but were gifted goals by the visitors at critical times during the match.
Aberdeen ought to have taken the lead on five minutes when a corner kick from the right was driven into the area by Jeffrey de Visscher.
The ball found the head of the unmarked Lee Miller whose bullet effort flew narrowly over.
Enterprising play from Barry Nicholson saw him drift past his marker on 16 minutes and his cross into the area was missed by Darren Mackie at the near post before falling to Miller, who only succeeded in prodding the ball into the grateful arms of Chris Smith.
As the visitors continued to dominate open play, a deep cross from Ryan McCay found the head of Hugh Murray, but while his effort was on target, it failed to trouble Jamie Langfield in the Dons goal.
Aberdeen got themselves in front on 43 minutes in fortuitous circumstances.
A Mackie header back across the area fell into the path of de Visscher who was up-ended in the box by Stephen O'Donnell.
Scott Severin made an immaculate job of the penalty kick by rolling the ball into the corner of the net to give the Dons an unlikely lead.
The second half continued as the first half had ended with St Mirren continuing to attack Aberdeen's right side with David van Zanten and Chris Birchall prominent.
From the latter's cross, Alexander Diamond did brilliantly to block a Stewart Kean effort with the big striker poised to score.
Aberdeen were gifted a second goal on 63 minutes when John Potter was short with his pass back allowing Miller to intercept. He outpaced the defence before rounding keeper Smith and coolly sliding the ball home from an acute angle.
On 70 minutes slack play in midfield between the visiting centre-backs saw Steve Lovell latch onto the loose ball before sending de Visscher clear on goal.
The Dutchman was bundled over by Smith which gave the Dons their second penalty of the afternoon and Severin again brilliantly netted the resultant spot-kick.
At the other end, a glancing Kean header from a Franco Miranda cross brought out a great save from Langfield.
In the closing minutes the home side added a delightful fourth goal.
Jackie McNamara's deft chip over the defence found Miller who, in two touches, brought the ball under control before flicking it into the net beyond the despairing dive of Smith.