In a second half which turned into a rout, Rangers put Aberdeen to the sword.
Substitute Steven Thompson, who had come on for the injured Dado Prso after 27 minutes, put the home side ahead at half-time.
Peter Lovenkrands' goal with just over 20 minutes to go opened the flood gates yet up until that time, the match could have gone either way.
Two goals by Nacho Novo, one from the penalty spot, and a stunning strike by Fernando Ricksen added to the Dons misery as their recent well documented revival hit the buffers.
The home side threatened early when Prso turned on Gregory Vignal's pass but his parting shot was off target.
Fernando Pasquinelli's snap shot was saved by Stefan Klos diving to his left as the visitors pushed forward.
Michael Hart fouled Ricksen at the edge of the box, but the Dutch player was unable to keep his free-kick on target. Clever work by Novo released Hamed Namouchi but he shot against an Aberdeen defender when he should have passed to the unmarked Robert Malcolm.
Prso was stretchered off midway though the half after a clash of heads with Scott Severin.
Rangers forced a series of corners without really threatening the Aberdeen goal. Indeed the Dons nearly went ahead when Klos retreated from a ball he could have reached, but the keeper redeemed himself with a point-blank save from Darren Mackie.
After this escape Rangers broke quickly and took the lead. Novo's cross looked to have been cleared but in attempting to keep the ball in play, Severin lost possession to Novo whose pass along the six-yard line was forced home by Thompson via a post.
In the second half Novo and Zurab Khizanishvili shot wide before Aberdeen substitute John Stewart, who had come on a half-time for Pasquinelli, volleyed over Mackie's pass.
Then Ricksen's pass to Lovenkrands beat the offside trap, though it must have been a close call, but the Dane slid the ball home with a clinical finish.
Novo and Lovenkrands both went close with efforts before Khizanishvili's superb pass found Novo and though Phil McGuire claimed hand ball, the Spaniard rounded the keeper before shooting home.
Incredibly Rangers made it four. Kevin McNaughton cleared Thompson's header off the line, but the ball only reached Ricksen who magnificently struck his right-foot shot from 25 yards into the corner of the net.
There was still time for Novo to convert a penalty after McGuire had pulled him to the ground as Aberdeen must have wondered what had hit them especially after their victory over Celtic in midweek.