Aberdeen were unable to delay the inevitable any longer as Patrick Roberts inspired Celtic to a 3-2 victory that confirmed a fifth successive league title.
The on-loan Manchester City midfielder gave Graeme Shinnie a torrid time in the opening 45 minutes and produced two sublime strikes to give the Hoops a 2-0 half time advantage.
It looked to be all over when Mikael Lustig slotted home a third for the Hoops five minutes after the interval but two quick-fire goals from Niall McGinn and Andrew Considine set up a rousing finale.
Shay Logan passed up a great chance to level the scores but Celtic held on for the win that secured their status as champions.
Aberdeen stuck with the same team that had defeated Motherwell 4-1 last weekend with Welsh international Simon Church shaking off an ankle injury to lead the line for the Dons.
Celtic made three changes with Charlie Mulgrew, Stuart Armstrong and Tom Rogic stepping in for Efe Ambrose, Scott Brown and Colin Kazim-Richards.
Aberdeen were without a league win at Celtic Park since a 3-2 success in October 2004 but they made an encouraging start with Jonny Hayes producing some excellent wing play to set up the unmarked Niall McGinn but his effort bounced wide.
Celtic responded to that let-off immediately with Roberts picking up the ball on the right flank, darting inside before unleashing a sublime strike from 25 yards that flew beyond Adam Collin.
The Dons looked jittery after the early setback and the hosts capitalised on more sloppy defending in the 20th minute to double their advantage.
Leigh Griffiths threaded a cute pass between Graeme Shinnie and Andrew Considine for Roberts, who curled the ball beyond Collin for his second of the game.
The Dons were forced to make a change three minutes before the break when Church limped off and was replaced by Mark Reynolds with Kenny McLean pushed forward into attack.
Celtic also altered their line-up at the break with Ambrose replacing former Dons defender Mulgrew.
It took the home side only five minutes of the second half to grab a third with McGregor darting past Shinnie before cutting the ball back for Lustig to apply the finishing touch.
The Dons could have pulled a goal back when Hayes pounced on an error by Ambrose but the Republic of Ireland international was denied by Craig Gordon.
Aberdeen did manage to get on the scoresheet soon after when Hayes, the Dons’ most creative player, played in McGinn who calmly stroked the ball beyond Gordon.
The complexion of the game changed entirely in the 64th minute when Considine headed home a McGinn free kick.
The party atmosphere around Celtic Park suddenly fell flat.
The Dons went painfully close to an equaliser with 14 minutes remaining when Shay Logan headed narrowly wide from a McGinn free kick.
Aberdeen continued to push forward but were unable to net the third goal that would have completed a remarkable comeback.
