I have a great basic buttercream icing. I want to know what ppl add to make it chocolatey.... (i.e., cocoa powder, melt chocolate chips, syrup), etc. Please let me know???

Also, on another note, does anyone use just a basic buttercream on their carrot & red velvet cupcakes or is the rule of thumb these 2 have to have cream cheese buttercream???? Please let me know.

Trial and error is best. I think the best chocolate anything has a combination.

So, melt some chocolate and add it in. Sprinkle in some cocoa and see what it does. Work it 'til you get the flavor you want, but keep notes!

FYI - I personally think that a small amount of coffee and a pinch of salt really enhance the chocolate flavor.

I love this one: http://cakecentral.com/recipes/7226/chocolate-buttercream-crusting

It crusts well, pipes beautifully, and it's delicious!

For chocolate buttercream, I just melt unsweetened chocolate and add it to my regular buttercream, adding until it tastes chocolate-y enough.

For my carrot and red velvet cakes, I use my regular buttercream, since I don't have enough refrigerator space to store cakes.

I add a dollop of my chocolate ganache to my buttercream to make a fantastic choc BC. Lovely!

I use this recipe for my chocolate buttercream.
250g butter
275g powdered icing sugar
1 tablespoon of vanilla extract
175g melted 70% cocoa dark chocolate

it is lovely creamy but very chocolatey