With the experienced Barry Robson and Willo Flood in their ranks, Aberdeen proved too strong for the young Dees at Balmoor Stadium, Peterhead.
Dundee started well and Dylan Carreiro forced home keeper Scott Brown into a fine save and, from the resulting corner Josh Skelly fired just over the bar.
The Dons hit back and David Mitchell in the Dundee goal did well to foil Joe Nuttall when the home striker was through on goal.
Aberdeen’s Scott McKenna almost opened the scoring for the home side but his close-in header came back off the post.
At the other end Carreiro again had a chance but keeper Brown brought off an outstanding save to deny the Canadian youngster.
Nuttall was not to be denied though and he opened the scoring on the half hour mark when a corner kick was spilled by the Dens keeper.
Mitchell atoned for his mistake by making several top class saves before the half was up, firstly from a Flood header, secondly from a Robson free kick, then bravely diving at the feet of Josh Parker, before denying the Dons once more by saving from Scott Wright.
Two goals in as many minutes early in the second half quashed hopes of a Dark Blues comeback, however.
Firstly, Nuttall played in Parker whose low shot beat Mitchell on 55 minutes and then Wright added to the lead two minutes later.
Dundee introduced Kyle Clark for John Black on 59 minutes and Clark was instrumental in pulling a goal back for the young Dark Blues eight minutes later.
A good run and cross down the right by Clark saw Ryan Gemmell bury the ball past Brown. Gemmell then went off to be replaced by Ryan Shaw.
Ten minutes from time a Parker through ball found Nuttall who added his second and Aberdeen’s fourth.
FT: Aberdeen 4 Dundee 1
Dundee: Mitchell, Gallacher, Gibb (Warwick 80), Waddell, Priest, Curran, Black (Clark 59), Colquhoun, Skelly, Carreiro, Gemmell (Shaw 68). Sub not used: Gourlay.
Aberdeen: Brown, Henry, Harvie, Flood (Thomas 80), McKenna (Culjak 66), Rose, Wright, Robson (Storie 66), Nuttall, Parker, Ross. Subs not used: Mair, Robertson, Norris, B Anderson.
